The 16 hour festival is very unique in that not only are bikes celebrated, but they also power the very stage that hosts the performances. The Bicycle Music Festival is the largest 100% bicycle-powered music festival in the world.

The festival features a 2000 watt pedal-powered PA system, as many as 15 bands, up to 7 festival stops, outrageous Critical Mass-style bicycle party caravans between festival stops, and zero use of cars or trucks.

It’s also a mobile festival as the hordes of bikes, along with the music, move from location to location over the 16 hour duration (see the route map). With its completely bike-haulable stage, the event is packed up and deployed numerous times: staged sequentially at different public parks and also on a moving “Live On Bike” stage which rolls down city streets.

The first leg of the Bicycle Music Festival begins at Marx Meadow in Golden Gate Park, accessible from Fulton Street and 25th or 26th Avenues (map). The Marx Meadow portion of the festival will run from 10am until 2pm.

Bike on!

Sarah B.

The Golden Gate Bridge, Doyle Drive and nearby parking areas will also be affected, so if you plan to head to Marin on Sunday morning, you may want to change your plans to the afternoon.

Best places to watch the race in the Richmond? Along 26th & 27th Avenues between Lake and Fulton, just inside the Presidio at 25th Avenue, or throughout Golden Gate Park. See the course maps

TRAFFIC ADVISORIES:

Richmond District (6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.)
26th and 27th Avenues from Fulton Street to Lake Street closed to through traffic. Cross on Clement, Geary, Anza or Balboa – expect significant delays.

Sunset/Richmond Districts (6:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.)
North and south access through Golden Gate Park should use Great Highway, Kezar, or 19th Avenue/Park Presidio – expect significant delays.

Presidio/GGNRA (12:00 am to 10:00 am)
From midnight to 10am, there will be no access to the Golden Gate Bridge through the Presidio.

Good luck to all the racers!

Sarah B.

CVS will host another public open house at the retail site (3132 Clement) on Thursday, July 29th at 6pm to address comments and questions from residents.

To help make the meeting more productive, feel free to send in your questions or comments in advance to CVSPharmacySF@gmail.com. CVS will also do their best to respond to emails directly as well as cover them in the meeting.

To RSVP, request translation services or for more information, contact Luis Cuadra at 415-788-1000 ext. 207 or email to CVSPharmacySF@gmail.com.

Here’s a wrap-up from the first public meeting on June 24.

Sarah B.

Frisbee’s show is full of all the tricks that kids love – juggling, mind-reading, fire-eating, upside-down escape – they definitely won’t be bored.

Families are invited to come out and enjoy the show in the garden. Admission is $5 per person or $10 per family. To attend, enter the Botanical Garden at the “Friend Entrance”, across from the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park (directions).

The garden hosts Family Shows the last Sunday of every month from June to September. Remaining shows coming up include:

Aug 29th: “The Comedy Magician” Robert Strong
Sept 26th: Award-Winning Magician Timothy James

Sarah B.

Mark your calendars – this year’s picnic will be held on Saturday, October 16 at Speedway Meadow. Note the picnic is usually on a Sunday so this is a new change.

The whole dispute with the Rec & Park Department revolved around money, though the department led residents and picnic supporters to believe it was about their concerns for the grass in Speedway Meadow.

Ahem, I don’t think so. I attended Alice 97.3’s recent Summerthing concert in Speedway Meadow where thousands were camped out on the grass for hours with blankets. Are you telling me that is any better for the grass than a few hundred parked cars?

Predictably, Jimmy’s is having to pay up for the privilege of using the park. On their blog, Jimmy’s says “SF Rec & Park raised our permit fees through the roof!” so the fees that car enthusiasts pay to display their classics and hot rods at the event will be going up.

I’m thrilled to know this great Golden Gate Park tradition will be continuing on Saturday, October 16. Stay tuned to Jimmy’s Old Car Picnic website for updates on the event.

Sarah B.

The crowd on Speedway Meadow for Alice 97.3’s Summerthing concert earlier this summer.

We’re Getting On is a series of interconnected short stories and novellas which explore youth, dissolution, the impact technology has on the modern world, and what happens when one tries to live completely off the grid.

Kaelan is on a 1,900 mile BIKE tour to promote his book that’s taken him from Vancouver to Ashland, OR to San Francisco; he’ll end the tour in Santa Monica.

It’s part of the author’s “Zero Emission Book Project” which means the actual printing of the book is also green – the covers are made of seed paper that, upon burial, germinate and grow into birch trees, allowing the book to offset its own carbon footprint ten times over.

Don’t miss Kaelan as he (literally) cycles into Green Apple Books on Friday night to read from, discuss, and sign copies of his new book. Green Apple Books is located at 506 Clement Street at 6th Avenue.

Sarah B.

Among the planned improvements are the construction of a new visitor facility, enhancements to the USS San Francisco Memorial parking lot and ongoing stewardship of the recreation area.

The National Park Service is holding a meeting on Wednesday, July 21 at 6pm to get feedback from the public on plans for the new visitor center. The meeting will be held at the Cliff House restaurant.

Seating is limited so if you’d like to attend, please RSVP by Wednesday, July 14 by writing trailsforever@parksconservancy.org or call (415) 561-3054 for more information.

Sarah B.

Home brewer Caleb Shaffer, a 7-year veteran, will present an overview of the extract beer brewing process, explaining the techniques, equipment, and ingredients used at each step along the way for your first batch of beer.

Why attend? Because when you learn to make your own beer you save money and get invited to more parties! Unless your beer is really bad…

The good news is that if you do find that hops and barley are in your future, the Richmond District has its own, neverending flow of brewery supplies thanks to Brewcraft at 1555 Clement Street (at 17th Avenue).

Sarah B.

The correct answer to the question “What is the formal, French name for Bastille Day?” is “La Fête Nationale,” which means National Celebration. Congratulations to Emily L., Suzy L., Simon C. and C. Low who each won a pair of tickets after being randomly drawn from the correct entries.

Even if you didn’t win, you can still attend the celebration at the de Young which promises “French-inspired fare and an array of specialty drinks from our open bar, including some deliciously unique absinthe cocktails.” Tickets and info

The event is put on by ArtPoint, the young professionals’ organization dedicated to promoting an awareness of, interest in, and a long-term commitment to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the de Young and Legion of Honor.

Sarah B.

Claude Monet, Rue Montorgueil, Paris
Memorializing the first Bastille celebration on June 30, 1878

Park Chalet live music and BBQ | Saturday, July 3rd 2pm-4pm
Kick off the 4th of July weekend with music from a 50 piece patriotic band that includes the Half Moon Bay “Sit-Down” Marching Band playing patriotic tunes, The Deutscher Musikverein of San Francisco and the Heiwa Taiko Drummers providing cultural music that is central to our country of immigrants.

Outdoor BBQ in the back opens at 10am, drop by and bring your picnic blanket for what promises to be a great show. Park Chalet is located behind the Beach Chalet restaurant, 1000 Great Highway @ Ocean Beach between Fulton St. and Lincoln Way.

Independence Day Concert | Golden Gate Park Bandshell, July 4 at 1pm
The Golden Gate Park Band will perform a free concert of American patriotic music, featuring Sousa, Irving Berlin and Tchaikovsky.

And let’s hope the weather cooperates for a clear night of fireworks on Sunday!

Sarah B.