Just as Outside Lands is set to kick off, we get news via SFCitizen that the popular (and FREE) “Power to the Peaceful” music fest, put on by musician Michael Franti, will not take place this year.
The concert missed last summer as well, and fans of the “Music, Art, Community and Consciousness” event were eagerly awaiting its return in 2012.
But organizers announced on July 31 that they would not be putting on the festival due to rising city fees:
Due to rising city fees which have ballooned our operating costs over the past years, we regrettably announce that The Power to the Peaceful Festival will not be staged in September of 2012.
In what would have been our 13th year of free festivals in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park the only way to have produce the festival this year would have been to turn it into a ticketed event. We wish to thank all of our supporters and volunteers and look forward to the next chapter of the Power To The Peaceful team working to promote peace and positivity in our community at future events.
The festival had something for everyone, and was a popular event for families. In addition to hosting international musicians, the festival featured a DJ tent, open-air art gallery, eco village, social justice forum, green vendors and food booths, a healing arts tent, plus kids zone offering arts and crafts, live theater, music and activities.
Another long running event, Jimmy’s Old Car Picnic, almost met a similar fate in 2010 when SF Rec & Park threatened to drive up permit fees for the 20+ year old fundraiser.
They eventually worked it out but it sent a clear message – Golden Gate Park is in business to make money.
No word on whether Power to the Peaceful will return in the future, but let’s hope it does. It was a nice free event that a lot of people enjoy. In the meantime, I’ll just keep listening to Franti and practice my yoga…
UPDATE: Our friends over at SFAppeal did some additional digging into what happened. There was a plan in place to put on the concert, where tickets would be $10 and attendance would be limited to 40,000 – and organizers would be charged $94,000 in fees. But PTTP organizers decided to cancel much to the surprise of Rec & Park. More at SFAppeal
It’s year five for Outside Lands and it’s boasting its biggest lineup of artists so far…and its biggest crowd. All three days of the festival are officially SOLD OUT.
If you live near the park and will be welcoming people to the neighborhood each day, here are some tips to help you negotiate the crowds and traffic – and give the best advice to the 65,000 concertgoers that will be visiting each day this weekend.
WHEN & WHERE
Outside Lands runs from Friday at 11am until Sunday night at 9:40pm. Venues in Golden Gate Park include the Polo Fields (main stage), Hellman Hollow, Marx Meadow and Lindley Meadows. On all three days, gates open at 11am, music begins at 12noon, and music ends at 10pm (9:40pm on Sunday).
7×7 has some stats on the festival: 195,000 attendees over 3 days, 9,000 bikes, 2,500 workers, 600 port-a-potties, 78 tons of compost and recycled materials, and 38 tour buses for the bands. Oh and 200 food items which relate to the port-a-potties and 78 tons of stuff
^ CLICK TO ENLARGE
WHO’S PERFORMING & HOW YOU CAN LISTEN IN
Before we get into the logistics, let’s take a moment to revel in the great headliners that will be taking the stage in our neighborhood park this weekend. The biggies include Metallica, Stevie Wonder, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Foo Fighters, Jack White, Beck, Skrillex, Norah Jones and many others. Check out the full lineup here, where you can conveniently sort by day, artist or stage.
If you’re attending the festival, be sure to get the free mobile app for iPhone or Android. You can create your custom festival schedule (and get alerts), view a festival map, get special Instagram filters to apply to your festival photos and more.
If you’re not able to attend, TuneIn radio is running a free, live radio station from the festival on all three days. The big headliners won’t be included, but you can listen to the live sets of some “known” artists like Franz Ferdinand, The Walkmen, Fitz and the Tantrums, plus many more smaller acts. Tune in here or on the TuneIn mobile app, and check the TuneIn blog for who they will be broadcasting and when.
TRAFFIC CLOSURES
During the festival, the venues and roads around them are closed to the general public and all car traffic thanks to cyclone fencing (most of them are already closed off). If you want to get through or around the park this weekend, plan on using 19th Avenue, Stanyan, or Great Highway.
Here’s a map of the entrances to the park that will be closed to car traffic during the festival:
Festival venues in the park will re-open next week. The Polo Fields will re-open on Thursday, August 16 at 6pm. Lindley Meadow will re-open partially on 8/13 at 8pm, and completely by 8/14 at 8pm. Hellman Hollow will re-open at 8am on Wednesday, August 15.
PARKING & TRANSPORTATION
3 days of a sold out music festival means a lot more people will be making their way into the Richmond District this weekend. MUNI is increasing their service to meet the demand (see schedule), and the festival runs a shuttle that transports concertgoers from Bill Graham Civic Auditorium downtown out to the park and back (11am – 12midnight each day, limited coverage from 5pm – 8pm. 3-Day Shuttle Pass – $29.50).
Again this year, schools in the neighborhood will open up their lots and raise money by charging for parking. For $25, you can park your car all day at Lafayette at 36th & Anza, Argonne at 17th & Cabrillo, and Presidio Middle School at 30th & Geary; for $30 you can park at George Washington High School (30th & Anza). Also getting in the mix this year is Cabrillo Playground at 39th between Cabrillo & Fulton. Lots open typically 1 hour before the festival opens and close 1 hour after the music ends. Jefferson Elementary in the Sunset (Irving & 18th Avenue) will also be open. Proceeds benefit school programs.
The festival also provides free, secure parking for bicycles at the intersection of Transverse and Overlook Drive.
Residents can also capitalize on their available parking spots. If you have a space or driveway you want to rent out to concertgoers, check out Park Circa or Park Please. You list it, users find it, park there, and you get paid.
Pedicabs are also an option this year. Cabrio Taxi will have 18 pedicabs working the park between Stanyan and the festival. 10 will give free rides between 12noon and 3pm, and 7pm – 11pm. West of the venue they will have 8 pedicabs working under the “tip system”. Call or text (415) 430-8853 for pickups.
The festival is also running 10 free pedicabs, transporting festival-goers from the entrance of the park to the festival and back for FREE. Look for the them along JFK Dr. at the Stanyan Park Entrance, the 8th Ave Entrance and under the Crossover Bridge.
COMPLAINTS? QUESTIONS? BLOCKED DRIVEWAY?
The festival has set up a community hotline again this year to take calls from neighbors – 415-422-0964. It is open from 10am until 11pm on all three days.
In addition to hotline staff, the city will add 2 dedicated tow trucks and 1 Parking Control Officer on each side of the Park to quickly respond to any blocked driveways or any other parking issues related to the Festival. You can also call SFMTA Parking Enforcement at 553-1200 (press 1 for English, then press 5 for blocked driveway).
SFMTA will increase the number of Parking Control Officers assigned to this event to direct traffic and enforce parking regulations from 15 to 25, and three solo motorcycle officers will be assigned to the streets outside Golden Gate Park to assist in traffic control and enforcement.
And if you want to make it super clear on your garage door that cars blocking your driveway will be towed, stop by McClaren Lodge on Stanyan and Fell to pick up a free “NO FESTIVAL PARKING” sign from Rec & Park.
WHAT YOU CAN BRING INTO THE FESTIVAL & LOCKERS
If you are planning to attend, be sure to peruse the list of what you can and can’t take into the festival. Blankets, soft coolers, backpacks, sealed water bottles (max of 2), binoculars and point-and-shoot cameras are all ok. Pets, glass, chairs, umbrellas, and alcohol are not ok.
For the first time this year, the festival will offer lockers so you can secure some of your goods if they’re weighing you down as you move from stage to stage. You can rent medium lockers for all three festival days for only $5, or large lockers for just $10.
If you’re attending Outside Lands, have a righteous time! And if you’re not, just remember it only lasts 3 days!
Tuesday night was National Night Out at the Richmond District police station. The nationwide event is designed to develop partnerships between the police and fire departments, and the community.
The event featured police and fire vehicles, a popular station tour, face painting and other activities. Thanks to cub reporter David H. for snapping these pics!
Face painting at last year’s National Night Out event
Tuesday night is National Night Out, a nationwide event designed to develop partnerships between the police and fire departments, and the community. The event is also a chance for the police and fire officials to meet neighbors and educate them on various safety and crime prevention programs.
It’s also a fun event for kids. They can check out a SFPD horse, or get familiar with a SFPD motorcycle or SFFD fire engine. The event will also feature a bouncy house and face painting.
Stop by on Tuesday night to learn more about your police and fire departments, and to have some good fun. National Night Out is free for everyone and takes place at the Richmond District police station at 461 6th Avenue from 5pm until 8pm.
Sarah B.
The SFPD horse at last year’s National Night Out event
This Saturday, the Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park will host their 15th annual Summer Gardening Fair.
The fair offers visitors a chance to learn about gardening from horticulture experts, as well as purchase special plants, growing materials, books and more.
“The Summer Gardening Fair is an annual tradition at the Botanical Garden,” said Kitty Fisher, education coordinator of San Francisco Botanical Garden Society. “We always have a great turnout of people looking to join a local plant club, buy plants and plant products, and enjoy a day in the Garden.”
Unlike some big box store nurseries, the Botanical Garden features a wide variety of plant species that thrive in the city’s unique climate. The Gardening Fair is a great chance to explore the plants and get advice from experts, and even purchase some for your own home garden.
The fair will feature Botanical Garden volunteers, plant specialists, and representatives from local horticultural and conservation organizations ready to share their expertise. Local gardening clubs accepting new members will also be available.
The Summer Gardening Fair runs on Saturday from 10am until 3pm, and admission is free.
This Friday and Saturday, the de Young Museum will host their second annual Fair Trade Bazaar, showcasing fair trade products from around the world.
The fair represents cultures from Central and Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Americas, and offers goods that reflect the the permanent collection of the museum.
Visitors can shop unique jewelry, textiles, native handcrafts, and decorative accessories from the sixteen participating artisans, several of whom are new to the event.
Artisan highlights include:
- Manos Zapotecas weavers craft vibrant rugs, runners, laptop bags, handbags, and wallets using traditional Oaxacan weaving and dying techniques. manoszapotecas.com
- Dsenyo artisans in Malawi, Africa create stylish apparel, handbags, accessories, and home décor celebrating African textile designs and traditional sewing methods.
- Elbeto jewelers handcraft stunning pieces inspired by Colombian native art that mixes sterling silver, brass, and gold vermeil with organic materials such as bull’s horn, tagua seeds, freshwater pearls, and semi-precious stones.
- Craftspring artisans in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia use traditional wool felting methods to create beautiful handmade fashion accessories, children’s toys, and home décor.
- Ock Pop Tok weavers apply traditional weaving and dyeing methods to craft brightly patterned home textiles, handbags, and accessories that reflect symbolic Laotian motifs.
The fair takes place Friday from 9:30am until 8:30pm, and Saturday from 9:30am until 4:30pm. Museum members receive a 10% discount on all purchases. Proceeds help support exhibitions, programs, and art conservation and preservation efforts at the de Young and Legion of Honor.
The above photo was colorized by Christopher Dydyk, a fine art photographer here in SF. The original black and white photo was featured in an older article here on the blog. It’s a photo from 1938 of the MUNI streetcar passing in front of the Safeway at 2900 Fulton at 5th Avenue.
The Academy of Sciences is holding their Penguins + Pajamas Sleepover for Grownups event on September 21. Enjoy an evening of activities with other 21+ at the Academy, then bunk down for the night next to the penguins, Claude the albino alligator, or the giant California Coast tank. $99 per person for non-members, $79 for members.
Olympic fever has hit the Legion of Honor. Their new exhibit “Gifts from the Gods: Art and the Olympic Ideal” features ancient Greek and Roman coinage, contemporary work from artists including Robert Mapplethorpe, Diane Arbus and Alex Katz, advertising labels, and a variety of sculptures, works on paper, antiquities, and textiles – all celebrating the Olympic ideal. So if you can get up off the couch, head out there to soak in some artistic Olympic homage.
Lover of chai tea? Then don’t miss “The Art of Chai with Pawaan Kothari” program at the Conservatory of Flowers on Thursday, August 9. Kothari runs the well-known Chai Cart in San Francisco. “This class provides a deeper understanding of chai – its history and cultural roots, methods of preparation, and how to choose its main components: tea, spices, milk. You will also learn more about what constitutes chatt, Indian street food, as you enjoy a sampling of Kothari’s signature Masala Chai, Rose Chai and a variety of street snacks.” You’ll go home with some ingredients so you can blend at home too. $35 per person; info and registration here
The 9 hole, par-3 Golden Gate Park golf course may be taken over by new management, if Rec & Park can get the Board of Supervisors to approve a new vendor this fall. But The Examiner reports that long-timers there aren’t thrilled with the potential change. “But the entire situation has its skeptics. Many golfers worry the course will be overrun by beginners, maintenance will suffer and regulars will be pushed out.”
We just learned that today, July 24, marks the 30th birthday of Toy Boat Cafe on the corner of 5th and Clement.
They’ll be celebrating until 8pm today with free rides on Butterscotch the mechanical horse (kiddies only!), story time with Green Apple Books, 30¢ coffee, a “Toy Boat Tongue Twister Contest”, spin the wheel for a prize, and for you loyalists, a free cone when you come in wearing your Toy Boat t-shirt. Watch their Facebook page for more details.
Happy birthday Toy Boat! Here’s to 30 more years of great desserts, ice cream, the latest PEZ characters, friendly staff and TOYS! More TOYS!
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This Friday and Saturday, the 
