Typical San Francisco infrastructure, by David Yu:
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Look for this area to be filled with football-field length yachts soon, you know, for the America’s Cup boat race…
Posts Tagged ‘piers’
Bay Bridge Alpha Tower and 14 Minions
Monday, November 14th, 2011A Photo Tour of the USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) Down at Piers 15-17
Friday, June 25th, 2010As rumored, the USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) guided missile cruiser was open for tours yesterday at Piers 15-17 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. Check some photos below and also some more here from Jonathan Koren.
Unlike the thousands of people at the Valrag down at Piers 30-32, the crowd at the Bunker Hill was manageable:
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Let’s start at the back, as the tours did. Countless Tomahawk missiles are down there, probs:
A five-inch gun, Harpoon missile launchers, and Old Glory - Gaia bless America:
Those petroleum mishaps clean up in a jiff with the Oil Spill Containment Kit:
When you got a Yingji-82 Eagle Strike or an Exocet Flying Fish coming your way, the Phalanx gatling gun is your last hope:
The fix-it shop for twirlypoppers:
This giant bell sits amidships:
They turn it upside-down for baptisms, if you can read the etchings:
Now we’re at the bridge, where you can see the Financh and the Bay Bridge:
The helm. Left and right are clearly marked – how convenient!
The view from the bridge overlooking the waterfront:
Now we’re at the bow, where you can pose with an AR-15:
This isn’t your grandfather’s cruiser. The way you can tell that is by the small bore size of this five-inch gun. Of course, this is a missile boat, primarily, not a gun boat:
And way up at the fron, the First Navy Jack: Don’t Tread On Me. It’s in vogue now, in this post-9/11 era.
All the deets, in English and Russian:
And There You Have It.
Russian Navy Invades San Francisco, Cleans Out Liquor Stores. Tour Varyag Thursday
Monday, June 21st, 2010It was all pomp and circumstance today down at Piers 30-32 when Russian Guided Missile Cruiser Varyag (Viking, mas o menos) made a courtesy call. See for yourself at Japan Security Watch.
Here she is after coming through the Golden Gate yesterday:
“Russian Federation Navy Missile Cruiser Varyag transits through San Francisco Bay while Coast Guard boat crews provide a security zone around the vessel, Sunday, June 20, 2010. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Pamela J. Manns – 100620-G-7265M-047″
All sorts of government officials went aboard today - people like Mayor Gavin Newsom and elements of every alphabet soup federal agency extant.
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There are some of your 16 huge launch tubes right there:
Then it was all over to Pier 7 or someplace for a ceremony with George P. Shultz and the Russian Ambassador:
They were all addressed by this avuncular Russian cowboy:
(This Rear Admiral has a few medals, huh?)
And then it was time to hit the town and do a little alcohol shopping. Thusly:
Employees at John Walker & Co. store (man, that’s a little too close to Johnnie Walker, don’t you think?) were pleased, to say the least.
Now, if you want to get on this aging cruiser to see how the recent refurbishment went, well, get there early at the foot of Bryant Street on Thursday. It should be a very popular tour (from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM or whatever they decide to do.)
A Thrilling End to AVP Pro Beach VolleyBall 2009 in San Francisco
Monday, August 17th, 2009Get up to speed on professional volleyball’s recent four-day visit to San Francisco right here. And read on to see what it was like yesterday during the Finals.
Pro beach volleyball with gold medal Olympians under the golden Sun - what better use could you have for the old Piers of San Francisco? Click to expand:
Let’s pass by the sponsor’s tent to see the rainbow of Crocs shoes…
…and here’s the mise en scene at Centre Court in the mini-stadium. This is a pretty good transformation of Piers 30-32. You don’t get the total SoCal experience as you might in counties Los Angeles, Orange (yes, The O.C.) 0r Fun Diego, but it isn’t bad at all:
First the Women’s Final. (Results here and better photos here.) Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs took on Jen Kessy and April Ross. See how high above the net they can get?
You don’t know where the spike is going to go. Will the ball go to the left or the right…
…or just slam right through your arms? (NB: KGC stands for Kentucky Grilled Chicken)
And on to the Men’s Final, with John Hyden and Sean Scott taking on recent gold medalists Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser. Here’s Phil the Thrillhissself:
These fellows are a little tall. See? Todd Rogers injured finger didn’t seem to slow him down too much:
And here’s the “Beast of Beijing” flying along above the sand:
Guess who won?
Joe Gallo presenting the giant check. Barefoot Wines is owned by Gallo? Did not know that.
So there you have it – an accessible, world-class sporting event that doesn’t cost and arm and a leg, right here in our little town. That’s the AVP San Francisco Open.
See you next year!
AVP Pro Beach Volleyball in Full Swing in San Francisco. Finals Tomorrow
Saturday, August 15th, 2009Read all about the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball competition in San Francisco right here. And, bonus, watch it live right now, right here(assuming you can handle a little Microsoft SilverLight software, that is.)
And you can also see some action on Comcast cable TV (somehow, not sure which channel) starting at 2:00 PM Sunday.
New mom Kerri Walsh wins a point in a close match yesterday. Click to expand:
See? The first game went into overtime:
No 90-pound weaklings here. Beefcake, Beefcake, BEEFCAKE!
Lucky fans can find a giant key in the sand to win, win, win! I think this was for a luxury stay at a Hyatt:
And the Marines are recruiting, using their giant red Hummer.
See you there!
See Gold Medal Olympians Play Pro Beach Volleyball – AVP in SF, CA Thru Sunday
Friday, August 14th, 2009Well, construction is all finished at Piers 30-32 so the AVP Crocs Tour San Francisco Open is on today, tomorrow and the next. Read the press release below.
Competition in the Barefoot Wine AVPNext Championship Cup yesterday. The finals on Sunday will be in the temporary stadium.
Hunter/House and Kaslow/Wooliver Win Inagural Barefoot Wine AVPNext Championship Cup and Break into Main Draw of AVP Crocs Tour San Francisco Open presented by Barefoot Wine
Main Draw play begins 8 a.m. FRIDAY
SAN FRANCISCO (August 13, 2009) – Two beach volleyball teams have earned their shot at professional beach volleyball stardom Thursday at the inaugural Barefoot Wine AVPNext Championship Cup. Colleen Hunter and Meghan House (St. Louis), and Colin Kaslow and Tim Wooliver (Austin) have played into the Main Draw of the AVP Crocs Tour San Francisco Open presented by Barefoot Wine, professional beach volleyball’s only stop in the Bay Area.
The Barefoot Wine AVPNext Championship Cup featured the best players from sixteen volleyball leagues around the nation, each of whom qualified to play in San Francisco in the hopes of getting their chance to make it into the main event, the AVP Crocs Tour San Francisco Open presented by Barefoot Wine.
On the women’s side, Hunter and House defeated New York’s Dana Fiume and Ginger Schuster 18-21, 21-17, 16-14 to take home the first-ever women’s Barefoot Wine AVPNext Championship Cup title.
“We’re in shock,” House said. “As soon as the ball hit that net, we just started bawling.”
Hunter and House, now seeded 24th in the Main Draw, will take on ninth-seeded Angie Akers and Tyra Turner at 8 a.m. on Friday.
On the men’s side, Kaslow and Wooliver defeated St. Louis’ Phil Goedecker and Wayne Scott 13-21, 25-23, 15-10 in the final.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Wooliver said. “That’s why we play, to eventually make it to the AVP.”
Kaslow and Wooliver, also now seeded 24th, will attempt to upset ninth-seeded Billy Allen and Braidy Halverson.
Friday marks the start of Main Draw action at the AVP Crocs Tour San Francisco Open presented by Barefoot wine. Athletes set to play include Santa Clara native, Stanford graduate and two-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh and 2008 gold medalists Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, as well as Beijing Olympian and Orinda native Nicole Branagh. Stanford graduates Matt Fuerbringer and Ashley Ivy will also take to the sand Friday.
The AVP Crocs Tour San Francisco Open presented by Bud Light continues Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Piers 30/32 in San Francisco. Sunday’s men’s and women’s finals will be broadcast live on Comcast Sports Net Bay Area, starting at 2 p.m. PDT.
Tickets are available at www.avp.com, www.sfgiants.com or at the onsite box office.
Along the piers they have more tents set up than you would find at a typical Quidditch World Cup. They were handing out free Barefoot Wine yesterday:
See you there!
Kerri Walsh Returns – AVP Pro Beach Volleyball This Weekend at Piers 30/32
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009Bay Area native Kerri Walsh is scheduled to appear in the 2009 AVP Crocs Tour San Francisco. It’s this weekend in the SoMA, on Piers 30 & 32.
Get your tickets now. Deets and photos below.
AVP CROCS TOUR SAN FRANCISCO OPEN TO TAKE PLACE AUGUST 13-16 AT PIERS 30/32
Professional beach volleyball’s only stop in the Bay Area to feature return of two-time gold medalist , Santa Clara native and Stanford grad
WHAT: AVP Crocs Tour San Francisco Open, professional beach volleyball’s only stop in the San Francisco Area, features world-class beach volleyball on the shores of the Bay. High-level athletic competition combines with a beach party atmosphere to make the tournament a perfect summer event.
WHO: Two-time Olympic gold medalist, Santa Clara native and Stanford graduate Kerri Walsh, fellow Beijing Olympian and Orinda native Nicole Branagh, 2008 Olympic gold medalists Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, AVP Crocs Tour stars and Stanford graduates Matt Fuerbringer and Ashley Ivy.
WHEN: This weekend – August 13-16, 2009
WHERE: Piers 30/32, San Francisco, CA
TICKETS: Please visit www.avp.com or www.sfgiants.com for tickets. Tickets are also available at the onsite box office throughout the tournament.
From this, as seen on Monday…
…to this, as it looked last year:
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And are they still looking for volunteers?
“To ensure a successful event, we are looking for volunteers to assist as ball shaggers, score keepers, ticket takers, hospitality assistants and more. To volunteer in San Francisco, please click here.”
Or if you just want to check things out, try it for free this Thursday:
Barefoot Wine AVPNext Championship Cup
Gates open when play begins at 8:00 AM – Free Admission
Start time 8:00 AM. End Time (Approx) 6:00 PM.
See you there!
