Remember the 1970’s? Well, I can’t claim ignorance of that particular decade, but nevertheless I was shocked upon first seeing this official SFPD photo of two of their officers zipping northward on official SFPD-issue mopeds.
See their nightsticks?
Zoom zoom.
Hey, maybe the Motor Division would like to trade in their Harleys and BMWs for something sassy like this sexy little Yamaha Riva, or something.
Wonder what the union would think of that?
In school, they learned us that locomotive engineers would plant California poppies by throwing seeds along railroad tracks. Don’t know if that’s true but oh well.
Certainly looks like some Johnny Appleseed has been doing something near the CalTrain station in the SoMA.
Anyway, it looks like Spring, despite the fact that San Francisco has become heavily urbanized.
Enjoy the nice weather while it lasts…
Well, you can’t argue with California Government Code Section 421: April 6th is California Poppy Day. (Some people think picking poppies violates the California Penal Code, but that’s not true.)
How will you celebrate the official day of Eschscholzia californica? Enjoy.
The Yellow Rose of California, high atop Twin Peaks in San Francisco. Click to expand:
Also seen in the California Native section of the San Francisco Botanical Garden (nee Strybing) in Golden Gate Park:
Hey, the latest schedule is up so there’s nothing stopping you from heading on over to the McLaren Lodge (near Haight Ashbury) in Golden Gate Park and joining a ride led by San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department interim General manager Jared Blumenfeld.
What’s that? You don’t like the bikes? Well then do what Barack Obama wants and become a Recs and Park volunteer. Either way. And there’s nothing stopping you from walking or riding along the paths they’ve already chosen - check out this schedule from last year.
Straight shooter Jared Blumenfeld (on the right, in green) at the start of a ride last month. When he’s not scoring points with the Neighborhood Parks Couuncil and/or earning demerits from Ken Garcia he’s leading bike tours of the City. But somebody needs to give him a longer chain for his bike (or he needs to change his shifting technique, either way) as his poor derailleur appears to be crying out for help.
Click to expand
See you there!
On the Road with Jared Blumenfeld
Jared Blumenfeld, who recently took the helm at the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, will launch a bicycle tour of 220 of the city’s parks beginning Monday, November 3, 2008. Blumenfeld, who is also the director of the city’s Department of the Environment, will highlight the ease of getting around to the city’s green spaces via driving alternatives.
Blumenfeld will visit the parks over the course of the next two months (weather permitting), covering more than 364 miles along the way. On Monday, Day One of the tour will begin at 8:30 a.m. at McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park and will include stops at Fulton Playground, Cabrillo Playground, the Golden Gate Park Golf Course and the Balboa Natural Area.
Members of the public will be able to follow Blumenfeld’s trek online via daily updates and schedules, available at www.parks.sfgov.org or they can meet Blumenfeld in person at the various park stops on his daily route.
“This is an ideal opportunity to showcase our parks and demonstrate how close and accessible these sites are to everyone,” said Blumenfeld. “It’s also an opportunity for me to get to know our parks and the people who use and work in them each and every day.”
Blumenfeld’s effort was lauded by local organizations, including the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SFBC) and the Neighborhood Parks Council (NPC). “We appreciate the importance of making our city’s wonderful green spaces more accessible by the greenest form of transportation,” says Leah Shahum, Executive Director of the 9,500-member SFBC. “We hope that many San Franciscans will follow Director Blumenfeld’s example of rediscovering the beauty of our park system, while also rediscovering the joy of bicycling.”
Isabel Wade, NPC director, agreed. “We are thrilled that the RPD General Manager is going to visit all of our park properties and meet with park advocates along the way,” said. “This will reinforce with department management that getting into our parks and hearing what the community and the line staff have to say is an essential part of maintaining a great park system.”
For more information, call the Recreation and Park Department’s Public Information Office at (415) 831-2782.
Have you heard about the bird?
The flag of San Francisco, California depicts a rising phoenix, often assumed to be symbol of the city’s recovery from the 1906 Earthquake and fire but it dates several years earlier to about 1900. San Francisco suffered several devastating fires, including six fires between 1849 and 1852 (the last destroying almost the entire city), along with two earthquakes. Every time the city, just like the mythological bird, “rose from the ashes” and was rebuilt in even grander style and size.
Below the phoenix is a banner which reads in Spanish: “Oro en Paz-Fierro en Guerra”, which translates into: “Gold in Peace, Iron in War“. Because of this the official City colors are Gold and Black; these two colors decorate the dome of City Hall.
Click to enlarge:
