12 posts tagged “san francisco”
Back home now - adventures finally over I have now returned to endless laundry and my regular life. It's not so sparkly right now but we'll get through. London seems like a mini toy town - small people in small cars eating small
Any the final leg of the trip was no disappointment. two days in town - jazz in North Beach, night trip to alcatraz, amazing oysters at Pesce, Haight street fair. With the amount I had been talking to my guest about San francisco over the last 6 weeks- it had quite a lot to live up to - it passed, in style - phewf.
Next we were on our way to wine country - we didn't quite realise the Ford Mustang dream we had been promised - in fact we spent the week swearing bitterly at the mustangs we saw on the roadand taking photos only really close to the car so you couldn't see how un-mustang-like it really was. Sonoma, Bodega Bay, Napa town for dinner - so beautiful.
then we headed south down 101 to Santa Barbara to see my aging God parents - Bob and Trash - 65 and she still refers to him as "lover" it warms the cockles of my heart. Intense goes nowhere to describing the tour we were whisked around on the following morning - I was inappropriately hit with a bout of the yawns - although santa barbaran history is fascinating I assure you - my poor over tired brain just couldn't take on so much information in such a short period of time.
Then up Highway 1 we went passing hot tubs and beautiful beaches on the way. Terrible sun burn ensued - as is now par for the course. Cambria, Carmel, Santa Cruz and home. So wonderful and such an adventure.
Califormia is grrrreat - just try and stop me going back!
My final week - now suffering mild panic attacks about going home and leaving all the wonderful and lightly strange people I have met. Reality is looming like Damocles' sword. Every moment now seems sacred, can't be wasted. This week i have been celebrating San Francisco's infamous cuisine!
American dinners have long held a fascination for me, despite my feelings about fast and deep fried food. So often the diner features in the party aftermath in american movies and as a result, to my slightly warped mind, has as a vaguely glamourous quality. A place where the evening's events are dissected and plans are hatched. It was always going to feature in my itinerary at some stage and Monday night was the night. Jonny Rockets American diner. I was in heaven. Cookies and cream milkshake (can someone please explain the difference between a shake and a malt - I just don't get it) , with a tuna and cheese melted sandwich (with etc gherkins - this is the funniest word out here - say gherkin and everyone thinks you're hilarious - amazing) and of course fries. By the end of my binge I had enough grease on my face to lubricate a small lorry. I swear my cheeks instantly swelled to twice the size.
But not to worry, the Mexican quesadillas the following night soon set me straight - this is basically cheese toasty with no toast and extra cheese. delicious, and so fabulously slimming which is excellent seeing as next week is the impending bikini week!
It was Eugenie's final stache-o-thon on Tuesday (yep it's a stache here rather than a tache) Fortunately make-up artist Marissa was on hand giving stache makeovers. 826 Valencia has raised a fair bit of money with this event thanks to Eugenie's hard work - am always so impressed by people who can motivate others to do silly stuff like growing a moustache - and organising events. This girl makes stuff happen. In fact, such was the draw of this event that even the illusive Mr. Hum showed up - and that is really saying something.
Wednesday night I discovered Nacho cheese... it's a bit like toe cheese but you keep wanting more. There is absolutely nothing right about a "cheese" with a consistency like mayo, that tastes a bit like smelly sneakers. oh yeah and it's hot. Needless to say, I succumbed to the sheer might of the MSG and ate a lot of cheese dipped nachos. a lot. and that was after 3 pints of keg beer and a barrel (literally) of popcorn. But wait - there is an excuse - I was at the Oakland A's match. My very first baseball game. It was too fun.
How extraordinary that what is basically rounders played by grown men in plus four style trousers and tights should become a national sport. Much like rounders, no one seems particularly interested, but unlike rounders there is really little incentive, if any, to actually hit the ball. In fact, every time any one did manage to connect bat with ball they were caught out. Of course I loved it all the same. "We" won - so all was well.
Tonight also promises great things - will have to get back to you......
please don't make me go home...
Photos will follow - panic ye not - Flickr have stopped me up loading photos - apparently have exceeded my limit - not sure what I think about that - turning down my beautiful photos.
This weekend was memorial weekend - which means one thing - HOLIDAY!!! Finally the germs that have been circulating in the office caught me and with it came the inevitable mild homesickness - a silly urge for some homespun sympathy - however fake. I ventured out once - having slept all day - to the apple shop - and now am the proud owner of one extremely smart mac book computer - no idea how the thing works but we'll get there and as lil bro Niall said - the keys are actually sexual. have spent hours since then taking photos of myself in various warped lenses on my photo booth - with inbuilt webcam - (amaaaazing).
But strangely enough, in this strange old town - the apple shop was not the most eye catching thing I saw that day. Within 5 minutes of leaving my house - I walk into a swarming sea of cyclists - who have drawn the traffic to a halt - I must be becoming slightly blase to these random occurrences - it didn't strike me as odd until I had waited for 5000 slowly moving bikes to pass before I could cross over. Critical mass - apparently - raising awareness about cycling - once you have ridden in this town you begin to see their point slightly - my bottom is now in protest over the bumps and lumps and man hole cover filled roads .
So reach the safe, reliable environs of the Apple shop, everything clean and white and glass - I'm almost comforted by its stable and consistent brand essence and aesthetic. then suddenly the momentary peace is shattered by a re-encarnation of shaun of the dead. 200 zombies march en masse into the apple shop, wiping their "blood" stained hands all over every clear surface they can find - shouting "brain,brain,brain" before lapping the upper floor and then leaving - completely undisturbed by security or store staff - "every 6 months the same" the forlorn store manager says as we raise a curious glance on leaving.This is a strange place indeed.
But the strangest prize must go to Roller Derby. How has news of this phenomenon not reached me in 27 years? Teams of fishnet touting girls on roler skates , most ceremoniously daubed in war paint before "bouts", give each other porn names, by which they are known for the rest of their lives - like some strange pagan baptism - go on to a roller rink and skate around in circles apparently trying to hurt each other! It's strictly girls only - and its sport rather than performing art - and it's for grown ups. This week I learnt about "Dirty Little Secret" from Iowa - that's "Dirty" to her friends - who is over 30 - and now beginning to wonder whether the horrific bruises that cover her legs from hip to knee are really worth it any more (WHHHAAATT!!???) But what is most cool about roller derby is that it sort of inhabits a peripheral sub culture - where leather clad bikers and goth chicks meet for burlesque strip dancing and sado-masochistic debauchery. it's wild.
Sunday I ventured as far as to gather a group together for an activity I wanted to do but needed friends for - and lo and behold they came! it was amazing and made me think how comparatively hard it would have been to do the exact same excursion in london with ones closest friends. The only issue was that the whole point of cycling to sausalito and around is to enjoy the beautiful weather and views over the bay. The fog was so thick that we could hardly see the road in front of our tyres and the wind was blowing so ferociously that at one point crossing the Golden Gate bridge I thought it was going to take me with it
But we all soldiered on wondering what we were thinking and who's awful idea it had been. My cold now at full force - nose running wildly into my scarf and my pour lungs working over time to compensate for the snot. it. was. nice. We get to sausalito - it's fine - but boring and cold so we head on to tiburon. where we............got drunk again. it's all too predictable, i know, but the pink lemonade tasted good and was so well deserved..... and then the sun came out (as did my grade 3 sun burn again - this time around the t-shirt mark is making a kind appearance - that's class for you).... in short it was a great day spent at Sam's - a cool and trendy place to hang out and get poopfaced.
if that wasn't enough - finished the day with Cocktails at the top of the Mark - that one is for you Daddy x
OK - so I have been hearing about bay to breakers (as well as loosing the ability to start a sentence without the word "so") for a while and quite frankly was wondering what the fuss was about.
.
Excitedly I rushed to the haight for some costume purchases only to be told that my comrades had bailed. Cinders had lost her gig so - onward and upward. not to be beaten hooked up with Dave R after brunch in Zazie's with eugenie and we set about buying the most heinous clothes we could lay our hands on - strangely shopping gott easier once fueled with a couple of Magnolia's finest ales.
one revolting dress and a david hasselhoff wig later I'm wondering who I am gonna be wearing my funny outfit with. Cue Jake - lovely Jake - friend of Eugenie's Bud, picked him up on friday night dinner a the blue plate in the mission and I was set.
The 7am start made me question the sense of the tequila decision only 5 hours previously, but a ride on Jake's motor bike through town, as well as being hit in the face with a flying tortilla, soon woke me up.
soon we were off with my new friends from Iowa. I might let the photos say the rest. thank you Jake for a great day x.
SF Chronicle gives an overview of the race and events:
http://www.sfgate.com/gate/av/movies/2007/05/21_t/baytobreakers_052007cag_t.gif
(05-20) 14:28 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- As the Bay to Breakers road race got started this morning, a man wearing only running shoes was cited for indecent exposure, but - this being the Bay to Breakers -- it wasn't a real citation.
Deborah Esenarro, a 42-year-old from Reno dressed as Lt. Jim Dangle from the Comedy Central show "Reno 911!" had issued it.
"I've requested backup," announced her friend, Brian Bledsoe, 33, also dressed as Lt. Dangle and also issuing tickets -- for such infractions as "copping a feel" and "feeling a cop."
"What's indecent about it?" asked the naked man.
It was an emblematic encounter in San Francisco's 96th annual rite of spring, a 7.46-mile jaunt from the Embarcadero to the Ocean Beach that was graced by sunshine as well as rock stars, brides, pregnant men and Scrabble pieces that formed words upon request.
Amid the jubilant atmosphere, tragedy struck when one runner collapsed at the finish line just after 9 a.m. and died, race officials and the San Francisco medical examiner's office said. No further details about the man or the cause of his death were available.
Race officials said 35,000 people paid $39 to $49 to register for the race, while some 25,000 crashed the party to run or walk a course that was lined with thousands of others, including wide-eyed, photograph-snapping tourists.
"Fantastic. Lovely, actually," said Tony Toriello, an Italian resident of England vacationing in San Francisco with his wife and two children. "We always see Americans on television -- the Steve McQueen, the Michael Douglas. Now we see the real people on the street."
Some participants were motivated to run fast and others were motivated to drink beer in imaginative ways -- such as while doing a handstand over a keg in a shopping cart on the corner of Howard and Fifth streets, or by sucking on tubes connected to a pair of 40-ounce bottles of malt liquor connected to a helmet
.
There were also world-class runners. They dressed as runners.
Edna Kiplagat, 27, finished ahead of two other Kenyans in 38 minutes and 55 seconds to lead the women's field. Her countryman John Korir, 31, was the top man, with a time of 34 minutes and 44 seconds.
As they finished, the event was just beginning for thousands of others at the starting line at Howard and Main streets.
Less concerned about posting solid times were two men just out of the shower (complete with towels, bed-head and faces full of shaving cream), an impressive spaghetti and meatballs, a man dressed all in brown who said he was dog poop and too many red-and-white-wearing Pamplona bull-dodgers to count
.
There was a corps of Imperial stormtroopers in full plastic armor that made running no easy chore and a fan club for "American Idol" contestant Sanjaya Malakar.
Steve Larson, a 42-year-old San Franciscan, played a pushy Transportation Security Administration airport baggage screener to a tee.
"Folks, I need a single file line," Larson shouted. "Please take off your shoes and put your valuables in the container. Ladies, I will wand you."
Dozens of salmon soon passed by, swimming upstream. In what has become a Bay to Breakers classic, the fish started at the top of the Hayes Street hill -- about midway through the course -- then headed to the starting line, after making sure the competitive runners had gone through.
"Spawn, spawn, spawn!" cried Laura Mazzili, a 36-year-old San Franciscan portraying a salmon for the third year. "It's a beautiful day for a spawn."
Even more decidedly against the current was a group of real-life street preachers holding giant signs that quoted scripture and warned sinners about the approach of judgment day. Philip Johnson of Washington state said he was part of a "loose network brought together by the common passion of street preaching." He was upbeat despite receiving a steady stream of ridicule.
"Jesus turned my water into wine, baby," one jogger shouted while gripping a plastic cup.
Alcohol and nudity were officially prohibited, but there was quite a lot of alcohol and nudity. Rocky Angel, a 40-year-old artist from Oakland wearing only shoes, face paint and his registration number, said he was marking a decade in the buff.
"It's a chance," Angel said, "that doesn't come up often enough."
A few blocks behind was a group with an even more radical message. They called themselves CANKLE, or Citizens Against Needless Kinetic-Led Energy, and advocated walking over running.
"Slow down!" shouted Casey Strack, a 26-year-old city resident. The signs he and his friends held read "Your running does not impress me," "Bring our runners home" and "What's the rush?"
One of their signs compared lists of walkers and runners. Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa? Walkers. Among the runners: the aforementioned Sanjaya, the avian flu and Hillary Clinton.
"She's running," said Strack.
E-mail Demian Bulwa at dbulwa@sfchronicle.com.
Since I have been in San Francisco I have seen some weird and wonderful things but none to rival yesterday's extravaganza. What was it? I'll let Wikipedia have a go at defining Bay to Breakers for you...
These are some of the sights I saw - apologies if they offend...
For the history buffs among you here is the historical version of events...
Bay to Breakers History
95 YEARS AND COUNTING...
At 5:13am on April 18, 1906, a devastating earthquake – that would become one of history’s most notorious natural disasters - rocked San Francisco. The subsequent fire and destruction were unimaginable, and many feared the City would be gone forever. But San Franciscans, displaying their typical fortitude and innovation, immediately began rebuilding the city and producing events to lift their morale. One of those events, the Cross City Race – known better today as ING Bay to Breakers – was first run in 1912 as a precursor to the world-class athletic events planned for the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition on Treasure Island. There were less than 200 participants that first year and Robert Jackson Vlught was the first person to ever cross the finish line, with a finishing time of 44:10.
Since then, Bay to Breakers has prevailed as a testament to San Francisco’s uniqueness and audacity. Each year, the race is a glorious celebration of the human spirit – a giant wave of athleticism, fun, frivolity, and determination flowing across the City from the bay to the ocean. It is one of the largest footraces in the world with 65,000 + participants and 100,000 + spectators annually. As the race grew in size it even set a Guinness Book record, with 110,000 participants, in 1986. The course is challenging and beautiful, and consistently attracts top athletes in the sport. But it isn't just a race for the serious runner.
In the true spirit of San Francisco the race is a celebration for everyone. Thousands of costumed participants join with families, weekend runners and people just out for a stroll. As they make their way through the heart of San Francisco they are cheered by thousands of spectators and live music along the course. They also have to dodge the "spawning salmon" who each year make their way from the Finish line, through the masses, to the Start.
Throughout its long history Bay to Breakers has been a showplace for the City's irrepressible color and its affection for eclectic traditions. Although runners come from across the country and all points of the globe, the race is still quintessential San Francisco and a true reflection of life between the breakers and the Bay.
Historical highlights:
- 1928: The Cross City Race moves to the last Sunday in January (and has been held on a Sunday ever since).
- 1940: The first female runner, Bobbie Burke, participates disguised as a man.
- 1940: The first costumed runner (other than Bobbie Burke) takes to the course as Captain Kidd, and finishes last.
- 1949: The first year the race was held in May.
- 1963: The smallest Cross City on record, with only 25 registered runners.
- 1964: In it's 53rd year the race is dubbed Bay to Breakers.
- 1971: With a finishing time of 50:45, Frances Conley becomes the first official winner in the Women's Division.
- 1974: At the age of 10 Maryetta Boitano became the youngest winner in the history of the race. She also set the fastest women's finishing time at 43:22. She went on to win the Women's Division in 1975 and 1976.
- 1986: With 78,769 registered runners and 110,000 total participants, the Guinness Book of World Records awards Bay to Breakers the title of World's Largest Footrace.
- 1990: The Reebok Aggies set the men's centipede record with a time of 37:39.
- 1990: The Reebok Aggies set the women's centipede record with a time of 47:36.
- 1993: From 1993 to 1996, Bay to Breakers was the first official 12K National Championship recognized by the USA Track & Field Association.
- 1993: Ismael Kirui of Kenya set the standing men's record with a finishing time of 33:42.
- 1994: American runners were able to use their times to meet the standard required for entry into the Olympic trials.
- 1998: In 13th place, Jane Omoro secured the highest finishing position by a woman.
- 2005: With a finishing time of 38:22, Asmae Leghzaoui (Morocco) set a new women's world record and bested our course record, set by Delillah Asiago (Kenya) in 1995, by one second.
Photos
You can see more photos on this Bay to Breakers Flickr site - if you were there please share your photos either on this Flickr site or to this group.
Amazingly the corporate sponsor didn't really capture the mood for the vast majority - here's the corporate version of Bay to breakers events from ING direct
If you were there and would like to share your experiences in more detail - Blog to our Bay to breakers group on Vox
Yay to Bay to Breakers 2007!
This week has been live music week - and so cool.
Last night I went to see Birds and Batteries in Hotel Utah with Krissy. They were on Krissy's hit list to see and came highly recommended - will definitely be going to her for tips from now on. Check out her recommends on her site - art is the new religion
Last night went out to the Elbo rooms with Dave to see his cousin's band - the Dodos - I swear to God they had people coming up to them at the end of the show and thanking them for making their week worth living - it was mesmeric - and beautiful.
just two guys - one on drums - Logan, and the other on guitar and vocals - Meric. Really nice kids too. From their myspace is looks like they are at the beginning of a long tour - I hope lots of people get to see them.
So funny finally seeing another side of town - the yuppie scene wears a little thin after a while - going into a grungey darkened place last night where no one had gleaming white smiles, and everyone looked a little bit... dirty! I felt strangely like I had come home!
I must get one
Ciao for now x
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