A conceptual rendering of the vintage concession stand at the Stow Lake Boathouse

I haven’t covered much of the Stow Lake brouhaha which has been the topic of much discussion among Golden Gate Park purists; SFCitizen.com covered all the gory details quite well. It seems to be all about preserving the legacy of pink popcorn and people’s affection for the dilapidated boathouse and the family that runs it.

So we’ll just zoom ahead to this week, when the Recreation & Parks Department announced the new vendor they’re considering to take over operations at Stow Lake.

Ortega Family Enterprises from New Mexico is the frontrunner; they currently run the show at Muir Woods. Ortega would replace longtime operator Bruce McClellan, whose family has run the boathouse for three generations.

Ortega has big plans for Stow Lake which would give it a much-needed facelift, bringing it closer in quality to its high-end neighbors in the Music Concourse. Ortega plans to invest $233,000 for the following improvements:

- Interior and exterior renovations to the 64 year-old boat house. They’ll repaint the exterior, upgrade the vintage snack counter, and convert the interior space, which is now used for boat repair, into a small cafe. The menu will include sandwiches, salads, baked goods and cafe beverages, plus free WiFi. Don’t worry – longtime favorites pink popcorn and animal crackers will still be readily available.

- A new fleet of 50 boats to cruise Stow Lake including sea pedals, pontoons, swan-themed pedal and rowboats. Ortega will shell out $152,000 for the new vessels and they say they plan to reduce rental rates in the coming years.

A conceptual rendering of a new cafe inside the Stow Lake Boathouse

Ortega is also committing to ongoing maintenance, which is something the current owners have failed at in my opinion. 2% of Ortega’s revenues, or roughly $18,000 per year, will be put back into the facilities for regular maintenance and repair.

Ortega Family Enterprises will go before the Recreation & Parks Commission on August 19, seeking approval for their proposal and the green light to move forward. If they get it, it’s onto the Board of Supervisors for final sign off.

Despite all the shiny newness of Ortega’s plans, not everyone is happy about the impending changes. One group, Save Stow Lake, has been lobbying to preserve the boathouse in its current state and leave management in the hands of Bruce McClellan. And in a recent poll on SFAppeal.com, 53% voted to leave the boat house as is in favor of preserving tradition (only 88 votes, but still).

Well, I’m excited by the proposed changes. I don’t believe that you have to sacrifice quality to preserve tradition. I’ve felt for a long time that Stow Lake is a little seedy and as a result, its charm is wearing off. It’s someplace I’d like to take visitors to, but usually skip. With these new enhancements, I’m sure both tourist and local traffic will increase.

What do you think? Are you in favor of leaving things as is or giving Ortega the chance to improve Stow Lake?

Sarah B.

Some vintage postcards of lovely Stow Lake that I found at a flea market:

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 video above from K9VideoBlog documents the sad vandalism of elm trees in Golden Gate Park’s Music Concourse.

The latest attack was discovered on Wednesday morning; 14 young elms and one sycamore had been sawed in two about 8 inches from the ground. The Chronicle notes it’s the fifth tree attack in the park since May, bringing the total of vandalized trees to 44.

It’s been a tough summer for Golden Gate Park with pit bull attacks on July 1st, followed shortly thereafter by a fatal stabbing on July 4th, and now, this senseless vandalism.

Elton Pon, a parks department spokesman told the Chronicle, “We don’t know if it is someone with a political agenda, or a mental problem or something else. It does seem like someone knows what they’re doing.”

The Recreation & Parks Department is offering a $2,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the tree vandal.

Sarah B.

I’ve never known much about lawn bowling, but there’s something appealing about those ultra-flat grass plains and shiny balls that glide smoothly across them.

There are a few lawn bowling venues in San Francisco, including North Beach and in the Sunset alongside 19th Avenue. But the one in Golden Gate Park near the Children’s Playground is one of the nicest places to play.

The Examiner recently profiled Al and Cheryl Minvielle who took up the sport post-retirement. They both have the Richmond District in their blood; they met as high school sweethearts in George Washington High School’s class of 1965.

Since taking up lawn bowling, the couple is hooked. It gives them something they can enjoy together and, well, they’re good at it. Cheryl has earned a couple of trophies in various tournaments. “I’m becoming more competitive here than I’ve ever been in my life,” Cheryl said.

Cheryl also volunteers her time to keep the lawn bowling club looking nice, pitching in on landscaping projects.

“Being a part of this is more than just a game,” said Al, who grew up in the Richmond district and settled with his family in the Inner Sunset. “It’s our neighborhood, our park, our clubhouse and our sporting community.”

Read the full article at sfexaminer.com

The San Francisco Lawn Bowling Club welcomes new members anytime. For about $100 a year, members get a key to the clubhouse and open access to the three bowling greens. Visit their website or call 487-8787 for more information.

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.

The Recreation & Park Department’s Park Police will add a “daily evening patrol” to their usual rounds, focusing on the eastern end of the park near the Conservatory of Flowers.

The Park Police will also continue the 4am sweeps that they’ve been conducting for the last 10 months.

“We’re going to start up early, get in there and cite individuals,” Park Police Station Capt. Teresa Barrett said. “We have to address what’s been going on. Part of that is finding people with criminal histories and getting them out of there.”

Richmond District Police Station Captain Richard Correia told the Examiner that he also plans to increase morning patrols in the park for at least the next 60 days. Correia said he thinks people were frightened by last week’s incidents but emphasized, “The park is safe. We want everyone to feel safe.”

Did last week’s incidents alarm you? Do you have concerns about being in Golden Gate Park in the early morning or evenings?

Sarah B.

Sarah B.

Taking in the sunset from Adolph Sutro’s terrace

This was the original de Young Museum

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

Police were called to the scene at Conservatory Drive and John F. Kennedy Drive at around 9:40pm last night.

The Examiner reports that the victim was 25 years old. One man, 65 years old, was taken into custody when police arrived. The incident is still under investigation.