When fun-loving tourists come to the Western Addition in buses, well, it’s the worst thing in the world, boo hoo.
But when locals double-park their BMWs and Mercedes Benzeses on Bush Street next to a church on a Saturday or a Sunday, well, that’s just fine because San Francisco likes to promote organized religion.*
Thusly:
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Oh well.
So much for Transit First.
*Even though it’s not supposed to.
Obviously, California will let you put the word “GOD” on your license plate, ’cause, well just look.
One supposes “I Heart You God” was already taken:
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Maybe courts are looking at things differently lately?
I know not.
Oh, here’s something:
“The number ’69′ is reserved for 1969 year model vehicles.”
But they don’t talk about other taboo topics.
Oh well.
Merry part.
Yeasterday’s Lantern Parade Festival and Bon Odori Dance in Japantown was well-attended. Here’s some video and here’s the dragon, courtesy of the SFNoobs.
Now, I didn’t stick around for nightfall, but here’s what things looked like early on, under the pouring sun.
The parade coming…
…and going:
People were encouraged to wave their hands in the air like they just didn’t care. (Note Retail for Lease sign in background.)
And here comes the queen and court for the Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program 2010
Amd here’s what people were carrying:
And here’s the only pol that I saw, Emily Murase. She’s running for the San Francisco Board of Education in November:
All this was taken in by a (mostly) enthusiastic crowd:
Takko, the garlic capital of Japan, sounds like my kind of town:
People were dusting off their summery yukata to join in:
See you next year!
Per Hokubei.com:
“Inspired by the 1936 Chochin Gyoretsu (Lantern Parade) commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Kanrin Maru’s arrival, the Japanese Benevolent Society of California, the Japantown Merchants Association, the Japanese American Religious Federation, and other Japantown community organizations have organized a lantern parade celebrating the 150th. “Yosakoi,” a traditional folk dance of the Kochi region, which will host the 2011 Grassroots Summit, will be performed from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Children are encouraged to participate. The Bon Odori/Lantern Parade will follow from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.”
See you there.
This was the scene today in Civic Center, where hundreds of Coptic Christians rallied for religious freedom and an end to the recent violence in Egypt.
Details at 40 Going On 28.
