Here we go again: another spring, another police crackdown of apparently illegal activities in Dolores Park. Their annual dog and pony show of rounding up dealers and pushers and scolding the citizenry has become predictably routine, sadly. And it clearly accomplishes nothing. Alas, SFPD is busy dropping officers in the park while violent crimes remain unsolved.
But while we're not the least bit surprised SFPD has posted up in Dolores again, we cannot help but laugh at their recent bust of James "The Cold Water Guy" for selling bottled water. That's right, water. Water.
It was silly enough they had him arrested for flipping PBR for stupid prices last year, but come on. Who knew SFPD could be this petty.
[Thanks Jack for the tip!]
Previously on Uptown Almanac
Betabrand, Valencia's latest--and probably not last--purveyor of $225 smoking jackets, hosted their opening party last night. This morning, the critics branded it "retarded" and a "scam."
They also found a piece of chalk for some less weather-proof statements:
Previously on Uptown Almanac
In 15 seconds, 200 white people in banana suits dancing like they're at a Limp Bizkit concert will suddenly appear.After all the hoorah about Carnaval's troubles a couple months back, I decided to poke around their website to see how the festival was holding up. This is what I found:
This year’s theme is Carnaval Harlem Shake, with 8 city blocks in San Francisco’s Mission District bursting with music, dance, and exotic food from the many countries that celebrate Carnaval.
I was really pulling for a Grumpy Cat theme. What a let down.
Famed Latino queer bar (and all-around fantastic comedy venue) Esta Noche is in danger of closing. As they put it, "Last year the Board of Supervisors made changes to laws that can make it harder for small businesses to afford their permitting and license fees. Unfortunately, Esta Noche will have to pay for all their licenses in one bulk payment, which is already one month late." Now they have two weeks to pay off a $9,000 debt to the city or they won't be able to stay open.
Taking a page from Adobe Books' fundraising success, the 16th Street club has an Indiegogo campaign up and running. And on the 18th, "local queer DJs, drag performers, and politicians" will come together to party and fundraise for the venue.
Let's hope they pull it off, because the neighborhood probably doesn't need another Thieves bar...
[via Eater]
Grief not included.We know Kickstarter burn out and mistrust is at an all-time high, with Zach Braff and other doubtfully desperate artists pleading for money they already have. But this isn't that; this is The Secret Alley--the ever-necessary and adored workshop and community space sitting at Capp and 17th. Certainly you already familiar with their ping pong parties, movie nights, concerts, and halloween shows, and now they're looking to give their ground floor gallery some much needed love. Our friend and Secret Alley co-founder Ariel Dovas fills us in on their plans:
TSA has recently started a fundraising campaign on Kickstarter to renovate its downstairs gallery, The Galallery. This space, separate from the upstairs studio and workshop, has been host to many local talents over the years. In addition, the Galallery has been the home of TSA's annual Halloween-themed art shows and installations. 2012 saw a 12-foot-tall interactive deathray built by TSA members and hosted a surrounding art show with a doomsday theme. In 2013, TSA installed the crashed wreckage of a life-size flying saucer accompanied with creature sculptures, conspiracy paraphernalia, and alien animation and sound installation.
These renovations will include the installation of a new wood floor, custom designed to add to the already unique aesthetic sensibilities of TSA; a new, energy-efficient lighting system to allow for better, more professional lighting of artist works; and an overall patching and resurfacing of the existing walls and ceiling. Most all of the work will be done by current and past members of TSA. TSA is hoping that the humble fundraising goal of just over $6000 will be met within the next few weeks so construction can begin. This will allow the Galallery to open it's doors once again, to continue hosting some of the best, innovative, and underexposed artists, musicians, videographers, performers, and others the San Francisco Bay Area has to offer.
If this sounds like your kind of project, you can toss them a few bucks on Kickstarter. But do it quickly, because there is only a day and a half left.
KQED's News Fix just published a killer profile on Mike Brodie, who spent years hopping freight trains and photographing others doing the same:
Brodie would spend months traveling, often sleeping on the side of railroad tracks or in the woods. Occasionally, he'd go home to Florida to visit his mother.
For years I’d come home and every time I would see my mom I would be wearing the same dirty shirt, have really bad B.O., I’d have the same pants with all the patches on them. Wouldn’t change my socks or underwear, not often, you know? So my mom just got annoyed. She was like, 'Mike! You’re such a good-looking man! Why are you dressed like this!?' And I was like, 'I don’t care!' "
Read on for more on helping out his mother, going to prison for train-hopping, his thoughts on internet fame, and living in West Oakland. (And be sure to check out his photos.)
[KQED]
Because the San Francisco rental market is the fucking worst, one would-be mobile slumlord is hawking her sleeper van on Airbnb.
That's right, for just $520 a month (or $92 a night, if that's your sort of thing), you can call this cozy, street-level, rockin' one bedroom/personal Google shuttle your home. Of course, there is no kitchen, closet, on-site parking, or place to crap (at least, legally)--and we're sure utilities will run a pretty penny--but it is only a third the cost of the city's immobile parking space-sized apartments. So, you know, there's that.
Page describes her Stab City by the Bay home as such:
I have a 1990 Chevy Conversion van with only 45,000 miles. She runs great and has a cozy queen size van bed in the back and three captain's chairs, including the driver's. It has a clean record and gets pretty good gas mileage for a van.
The photos are verified by Airbnb.com, so you know the joke isn't on them, only us.
Previously on Uptown Almanac
I do feel a little bad for picking on the Dodgers, with their getting swept by the Giants, backsliding into last place and what not. Plus, I'm pretty certain they didn't win the World Series last year. Alas, this wonderful old man's getup is truly spectacular.
(And here's the view from the back:)
[via Last Renaissance]
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