Weed through the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass lineup & park easily
If you’re headed to the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival this weekend but are feeling overwhelmed by the voluminous lineup, check out this writeup from an HSB veteran attendee over at SFAppeal.
And for those of you who have to drive to the festival, both Argonne (17th & Cabrillo) and Lafayette (36th and Anza) Elementary schools are having parking fundraisers. Park in the school lots from 9am until 8pm for $25 (tax deductible!).
Ocean Beach history: surfers and sandcastles
The new Ocean Beach Bulletin is off to a stellar start. They covered a recent reunion of ol’ school surfers who reminisced about their adventures at Ocean Beach’s Kelly’s Cove. Huddled against the steep rock wall at the northern edge of Ocean Beach, a group of old men with sun-tanned, leathery skin passed the time in the sun by drinking beer, eating birthday cake and telling stories…
In another piece, Woody LaBounty of the Western Neighborhoods Project highlights the story of sculptor James J. Taylor, who wowed crowds with his sand sculptures on Ocean Beach a century ago. It will make Saturday’s sandcastle contest even more poignant.
Green Apple loves bikers
There’s a natural lovefest between cyclists and Green Apple Books on Clement, but I think they just took their relationship to the next level. The bookstore just got the city to install a new bike rack in front, and when you show your bike helmet at checkout, you get 10% off your purchase.
Methodically walking the Richmond District
Local blogger Allison is “walking every street in San Francisco, taking pictures all the way”. She’s documented a couple of walks in the Richmond District already (“The Richmond District never ceases to amaze me.”) – 4.5 miles in the central Richmond and another 2.6 miler. What I like is that Allison’s walks aren’t typical, just looking at landmarks. It’s a closer look at the streets we all walk or drive down often but don’t give much thought to.
New book on Harold G. Stoner, creator of the Sutro Baths’ “Tropic Beach” facade
Local author Jacquie Proctor has a new book out on architect Harold G. Stoner, who at one time teamed up with the lesser known grandson of Adolph Sutro, Adolph G. Sutro, to build the “Tropic Beach” façade for the entrance to the Sutro baths, as well as some interior pieces inside Sutro Baths. Read more about Stoner’s collaborations with the Sutro family and check out Proctor’s book, Bay Area Beauty: The Artistry of Harold G. Stoner, Architect.
I was at HSB Friday at 2 pm for the first note of the afternoon. It was a fairly tame crowd going in, but started to get crunchy when 7 Walkers hit the Arrow Stage (one of the Dead’s in that band). It got progressively more “intimate” minute-by-minute, and then the announcer said chairs and blankets don’t reserve the space if you step away for a while….must share space with fellow beings (which includes k9s and the occasional feline).
Hence, this weekend y’all will appreciate the fog/overcast, cuz it’ll be tight and warm in close quarters. Bicycles….whoa, self-lock racks on JFK from the waterfall to Traverse, and up on Overlook Drive, and it looked as if more racks were ready to erect somewhere. Still, it won’t be enough. Bikes prohibited on JFK west of Traverse.
Thanks for the kind words about the Ocean Beach Bulletin. Richmond SF Blog sets the bar high!