The San Francisco Citizen

A Pocket Gopher in Golden Gate Park Gets Evicted by a Heron

sfcitizen — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:24:26 +0000

This hungry Great Blue Heron waited around for a few minutes before plucking a pocket gopher from a meadow in in Golden Gate Park.

It’s the circle of life.

Click to expand.

So, Is the Outside Lands Music Festival Coming Back in 2009?

sfcitizen — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:07:27 +0000

Was the recent, successful Outside Lands music festival a transcendent musical experience, chaotic logistical nightmare, or a little bit of both?

Despite a little discord, things went the way you would have expected. The kids that came up from Stanford University liked it and the solons of Sacramento thought the whole deal was worth the trip.

Even though thousands of people snuck in, Recs and Park made more money than anticipated. This paves the way for more concerts in Golden Gate Park. See you there!

These young lovers skated down to the festival. Will they be able to come back next year?

Civic Center Tableau Mort: Concrete and Clay and General Decay

sfcitizen — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:59:07 +0000

This area near Golden Gate and Van Ness can’t really be called the Tenderloin, as you can see City Hall’s duomo is quite close by.

So, you have an area that’s been unused for donkey’s years, a defunct Trader Vic’s and an architectural McDonald’s. There used to be bushes on this lot, but they’re all gone now.

Some California poppies are the only sign of life you can see here. Sort of a bleak area…

Clique pour la pleine horreur:

The Windmill is Here! Now at Slow Food Nation 08.

sfcitizen — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:55:49 +0000

Right now it’s just blowing in the wind, but pretty soon this newly-installed windmill will earn its keep at San Francisco’s Slow Food Nation ‘08.

Finally, here it is!

“Welcome Pavilions – Jensen Architects
The entryway to Slow Food Nation, the Welcome Pavilions at Fort Mason and Civic Center Plaza will be visible from near and far. Serving as a beacon and a billboard, each Welcome Center will be housed in a re-claimed shipping container painted Slow Food Nation signature orange and topped by a full size, galvanized steel windmill.”

The Victory Garden is coming along nicely and even the skeptics might be getting on board.

See you there!

Bruce Wolfe Kicks Off Campaign for S.F. College Board

sfcitizen — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:38:03 +0000

This was the scene last night when Bruce Wolfe began campaigning for Community College Board at a fundraiser on Divisidero Street.

Bruce Wolfe with supporter Frank Rizzo from the Sierra Club in the background:

Read some “Howls from the Wolfe” here on his official website.

It looks like he’s off to a good start.

Was last Night’s Shooting in the Civic Center or the Tenderloin?

sfcitizen — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:20:11 +0000

News of the day: ”Gunfire erupted near UC Hastings College of the Law in the 200 block of McAllister Street at 5:40 p.m.” Interestingly, both accounts of this shooting place the 200 block of McAllister in the Tenderloin area.

Some might consider this block as part of the Civic Center as it’s right across the street from Civic Center Plaza. You can see these 49ers Gold Rush cheeleaders causing a stir on McAllister’s 200 block last year in the photo below.

Click to enlarge:

So is this block really in the Tenderloin?

Mmmm….

Don’t Believe in Clinton/Obama Unity Yet? Then You’re Delusional!

sfcitizen — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:37:24 +0000

Comes now Randy Shaw of Beyond Chron (oops, try here or here instead - you know, if a bunch of people want to get something deleted from Wikipedia, they can do it. Man, what is it with some people?) who pronounces:

“Anyone who tells you there is disunity at this [Democratic National] convention is not simply delusional—they are flat out lying.”

Mmmm. That certainly matches the Party Line. Check out this “Joint Statement from Maggie Williams, Senior Advisor to Senator Clinton and David Axelrod, Senior Strategist to Senator Obama” regarding “THE FACT” of unity states this:

“Anyone saying anything else doesn’t know what they’re talking about. Period.”

However, this is all spin. People, there is disunity at this convention. All conventions really, but this one in particular. Some are unusually outraged.

At least these folks were unified, back in the day:

The people over at PUMA (Party Unity My Ass or People United Means Action) PAC would certainly beg to differ. (Might need to update this entry if PUMA talk keeps up.)

And speaking of which, was James Carville wearing Puma shoes on the convention floor? Perhaps this was just a wardrobe malfunction?

Oh well. San Franciscans might want to come down to the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero in the Financial District on Thursday night, August 28th, to check out some genuine unity when Obama speaks.

California Academy of Sciences Countdown - Morrison Planetarium

sfcitizen — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:37:27 +0000

As of today, the countdown timer at the California Academy of Sciences website shows that there are just 32 days left until the Grand Opening in Golden Gate Park on September 27th.

As the cutaway view here shows, the Morrison Planetarium is on the left. Click to expand:

Check it. It’s all digital. They’re still working out all the bugs as they’re installing the new equipment. But, like the rest of the CAS, it’s going to be mega.

A family portrait of El Sol and Gaia, Mother Earth on the high-def screens of the new Morrison:

See you there on September 27th! (Listen to a few MP3s if you want, in the meantime.)

This Fake Sign Reminds Us All of a Real San Francisco Law.

sfcitizen — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:29:51 +0000

This sign, sighted near in the Civic Center near Opera Plaza in San Francisco, cites an actual provision of the Health Code but it doesn’t look like it was posted by the City or County. Seems like somebody has a personal campaign to get the word out. How civic minded!

SEC. 40. DOG TO BE CONTROLLED SO AS NOT TO COMMIT NUISANCES.

(a)   It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having control or custody of any dog to permit the animal to defecate upon the public property of this City or upon the private property of another unless the person immediately remove the feces and properly dispose of it; provided, however, that nothing herein contained authorizes such person to enter upon the private property of another without permission.
 
 

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to walk a dog on public property of this City or upon the private property of another without carrying at all times a suitable container or other suitable instrument for the removal and disposal of dog feces.

(Amended by Ord. 420-78, App. 9/8/78)

UPDATE: Well, commenter, of course it’s a real sign but it’s not an official San Francisco sign, as evidenced by the lack of any date code and the fact that it’s the only one in town. If you want one of your own, throw 50 bones over here to the Peachtree Business Products Co. Sadly, the funny graphic in the semi-custom sign shown above has been replaced by more dignified version of a man and his dog.

Police Action at Treasure Island Closes the Bay Bridge Exits Today

sfcitizen — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 02:51:35 +0000

Let’s say you live in San Francisco’s “newest community”, Treasure Island. Now just how on Earth are you supposed to get back home from the Outside Lands of San Francisco when the only eastbound exit from the Bay Bridge to TI is blocked by the California Highway Patrol? (Hey, are they’re still hiring? Yes!)

Seriously, unless you had a boat, you’d have to wait to get back to your non-rent-controlled abode. Click to expand:

Say hello to my little friend, a Remington Police Magnum 870P 12-gauge shotgun:

Whatever the cause of all the fuss, it didn’t last all that long.

Stay safe, Islanders!