First of all, anybody who thinks 100,000 souls attended the 5th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration in the Civic Center last weekend needs to put down the crack pipe and come back to Earth. Can you hear me Major Tom? Can you hear me Major Tom? I’m not even sure the Rule of Three could get you to a reasonable estimate. But if you want to chalk that six-figure number up to puffery or mindless boosterism, feel free.
Having said that, it appears that the AHSC has found a good home on Larkin Street betwixt Little Saigon and the Asian Art Museum. Last year’s venue in Japantown was not without controversy, but the clucking NIMBYs of notorious 1600 Webster (seriously, who would want to live with those people – they’re a laughingstock) have uttered nary a peep regarding this go-around in 2009, so they appear to be fine with the AHSC as long as it’s held a mile away from their condos. That’s what makes them NIMBY’s. Fair enough.
Here we go. Everybody seemed to being a good time, under the pouring sun:
There was some kind of parade going on – it was hard to tell. Larkin Street isn’t used to this kind of pageantry.
Hamburgerpanda made the scene. Natch.
And now it’s time for the Import Car Show. Check out this Beast from the East – Brampton, Ontario in Canada to be precise. But look how Brampton Comes Alive! with the scissor doors. Here it is, some kind of Chrysler, the El Diablo SRT-8:
The gritty nitty. Yes, it’s a Hemi:
What happens when the insanely wide rear tires on your Lexus are dialed in with insanely negative camber? What happens is every spring shower results in a vernal pool, ready for the rubber duckies:
Now, speaking of “schlocky souvenirs and mediocre food stands,” you had that in spades last Saturday – but what do you expect? It’s a San Francisco street fair, right? If you don’t want to buy a purse, don’t buy a purse.
Or magnets. Always with the magnets. I asked about snake oil – they were all out but they said they could order some for me.
And who else but The Supreme Master to round out the show?
I missed all the anime stuff, and the Thai kick-boxing and Assemblywoman Fiona Ma’s talk and a bunch of other things as well probably. Oh well. Events like this are part of what makes San Francisco San Francisco. It’s good that the AHSC could find a home this year.
