The San Francisco Citizen

(Or “set their sights,” it works either way.) Some feel there’s a big dilemma over San Francisco’s Dolores Park, but really now, you NIMBYs, what were you thinking when you moved in there?

Please consider the silent majority, 419 of whom whom give DP a five star rating. And don’t get the impression that only a park ranger can do something about crime. If you see a real crime going on, the SFPD is prepared to head on in there and deal with it - you don’t have to wait for a Ranger to show up.

If you want to be a help, try to deal with specific issues as opposed to sounding like you’re upset at people enjoying themselves.

Another dreaded sunny day at Parque de Dolores. The horror:

Click to enlarge and get a better view of all that crime going on.

They tried to warn us about the fog, but only some of us listened. The rest of us went down the waterfront only to be confronted with this:

Eliya via Flickr

You see, it should look more like this, from 2007. This year’s fireworks got above the fog, but only once in a while. It’s almost as if the Bay Area should celebrate Anti-Fourth of July instead.

See you (through the fog) next year!

Well, at least for this particularly oddly-shaped piece of real estate on Main Street near Folsom, the answer is this many:

“Last in, last out.” Click to expand.

It might be a pain to park here, under the shadow of the new Infinity San Francisco towers, but at least you won’t get the boot, or get into a chain reaction accident, or get all messy. Of course, if you work for San Francisco Honda, then just park wherever - the sidewalk, for example. 

Lastly, DO NOT PAY THIS MAN! 

Now you’re all set.

You can see the culprit reflected in this car’s windshield - it’s a sap-filled Eucalyptus globulus (aka Tasmanian Blue Gum, Southern Blue Gum or Blue Gum Eucalyptus) just waiting to rain down on your vehicle.  

Of course a garage around in the area of Golden Gate Park or it’s Panhandle could run you something like $10 per day. Maybe you’d feel a little gumminess is a small price to pay for free parking?

Your choice.  

The San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs will end their evening with fireworks tonight, July 2, 2008, over at AT&T Park.  

Sweet photo from mtmont via Flickr 

Follow men’s eyes as they look to the skies in the SOMA area at around 10:00 PM, per Rincon Hill San Francisco

The San Francisco Dyke March had a huge turnout yesterday, as per usual. This was the scene as the crowd headed to Dolores Park in the Mission district, where every girl cried for one reason or another, per Tony. Click to enlarge:

JasonJT via flickr

Much-discussed this year was the case of Venice Brown, Terrain Dandridge, Patreese Johnson, Renata Hill and Dwayne Buckle.

A full account of the 2008 Dyke Festival and Parade is here. See you next year.

When they’re not eating flowers, the Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill like to fly around San Francisco in big flocks.

Click to expand:

Wild parrots above the KPIX-TV building on Battery Street and also near 202 Green Street, where Philo T. Farnsworth invented television a while back. 

Some people are afraid of these red masked conures, but others would like them to become the state bird of California instead of the Valley Quail. We have some quail in San Francisco as well, but not all that many.

Will the Parrot cell phone-accessory company be able to change our state bird from quail to parrot?

Only Time Will Tell.

San Francisco 49ERS Family Day 2008 went off today without a hitch. But yesterday, the Niners had a few things to say about another annual off-season event:

Each year the San Francisco 49ers and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce host a kick-off luncheon to celebrate the new season with all of our players and coaches. Last year, the event became a forum for the politicians to pitch a stadium plan, rather than a show of support for the players and coaches. Although the team continues to be active members of the Chamber, we announced in March that we will not be organizing the same event this year. Instead, the team will be hosting 49ers Family Day at Candlestick Park this Saturday from 10 – 2 pm.   

The politicians in question could possibly be San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and call-and-response orator Senator Dianne Feinstein (and they might not have been too happy with feisty senator Carole Migden and her old Senate Bill 49 either). The problem with this “team statement” is that it suggests that Family Day is a substitute for the Chamber luncheon, but that’s not the case since FD is an annual thing itself.

Oh well, on with the show. Junior Gold Rush cheer clinic:

Coach Mike Nolan taking questions from the crowd:

“Do YOU come with the car?”:

See you next year!

Here’s what the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce had to say when they found out the annual luncheon with the Niners ain’t gonna happen this year:

“Our main reaction is disappointment,” said Carol Piasente, the chamber’s vice president of communications and events.

(At least they’re taking it better than Otto West would.) Maybe last year’s chant led by Senator Dianne Feinstein played a factor in the cancellation?

Irregardless, KNBR 49er Family Day is ON this Saturday, June 7th.

Gold Rushers Janelle and Jordan would love you to come to Family Day 2008. By Slick Rick via Flickr

It’s on! It’s free!

The day will feature contests, games and appearances by members of the 49ers football team, alumni, Gold Rush, Niners Noise Drumline and Sourdough Sam.  Fans are encouraged to arrive early to take in all of the day’s festivities.

See you there.

San Francisco’s famous wild parrots have spread out a bit lately, so they’re easier to spot these days.

Watch them eating springtime blossoms (cherry? plum?). You can listen to them also. And of course, you can read all about them.

Click to expand. (With your help, we can fight moiré):

Mmmmm…, flowers.