I have no idea how anyone could think that it was a good idea to end America’s primary east-west interstate freeway at Market and Octavia, but that’s what we have with the two-lane Central Freeway off-ramp these days.
Anyway right at the end of the off-ramp, the shoulder turns into a right-turn-only lane. And that’s right where this California Highway Patrol officer was standing the other day, with her prowler blocking your path.
“Ensuring safe passage to public transportation for residents, visitors, travelers and workers. Providing directions and general assistance as needed. Reporting criminal or disruptive behavior to the SFPD and MTA Alerting 311 and city departments of safety hazards or street cleanliness/maintenance issues that affect public safety or health. Providing information and referrals on existing city programs and services as needed.”
(So, as I said yesterday, get your tickets at SHN now - they’re not getting any cheaper and this musical leaves us on August 26th, 2012.)
Now here’s Emily L’s review from the Orchestra Section’s Row U:
“Extraordinary musical! Les Miz is a beautiful story of a man’s life struggles, portraying bourgeois issues such as poverty, child abuse, prostitution and other political corruption in 1800 France. I was instantly enthralled from the very first scene of the show. This cast is amazing and captivating in every way. The voices went with each characters’ every movement and the visual sets were stunning. The orchestra seating was a special treat as the sound resonated throughout, spot on with the actors. In 2 hours, Les Miz will bring out smiles, pains, laughs, cries, ‘aww’s, and cheers – it’s a roller coaster ride definitely worth riding at least once!“
So there you have it.
Les Miz reminds me of that other famous, long-running show, Phantom of the Opera, in a way. But guess who saysLes Miz is “far superior?” It’s Steven Winn of the San Francisco Chronicle:
“Just saw #lesmiserables@shnsf at the Orpheum – perfection – standing ovation .. Highly recommend it!”
All right, see you there!
“Cameron Mackintosh presents a brand new 25th anniversary production of Boublil & Schönberg’s legendary musical, LES MISÉRABLES, with glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. This new production has been acclaimed by critics, fans and new audiences and is breaking box office records wherever it goes.
Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, LES MISÉRABLES is an epic and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit. The magnificent score of LES MISÉRABLES includes the classic songs “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” “Stars,” “Bring Him Home,” “Do You Hear the People Sing?,” “One Day More,” “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables,” “Master Of The House” and many more.
[UPDATE: You know, I do and do and do for you people, and what thanks do I get?* You guys don't like this post? I should have pointed out that this is a new thing, that I've never seen this before, you know, real SFPD cops just standing around, like they're guarding a crime scene or something. But I guess I have seen stuff like this before, just not as much.
Things are afoot in Mid-Market, baby, and by that I mean notorious 6th and Market, not the greater Twitterloin area, which was drawn up, for some reason, by Acting District 6 Supervisor Randy Shaw / vested real estate interests.
I have no doubt that the SFPD is more than capable of pushing crime scenes one block further north into the Tenderloin proper and a couple blocks south into SoMA. The thing is that criminals, like everybody else, like a short commute, they like doing crimes near the Audi Avenue (nee Powell Street) and Civic Center BART / MUNI stations. Having cops hanging about certainly is bad for the criminal biz, making the criminals have to work just a bit harder...
* I think that's a riff David Letterman's mom had back in the '60s, back in Indiana.]
Exhibit A: In front of the Blick art supply house, what replaced another art supply house* not too long back:
Click to expand
Exhibit B: Right across the street, just lollygagging about, all the live-long day:
Effective policing?
No.
Merchant pleasing? Mayor pleasing? Twitter pleasing?
Certainly.
*“Blick’s opening on Central Market and the weekly Arts Market at U.N. Plaza are major new milestones in our efforts to foster the growing cultural arts district in Central Market,” said Mayor Newsom. “Blick and the Arts Market will be cornerstones in attracting artists and arts entrepreneurs to the area and continue its economic and physical transformation.”
I mean, really, what’s stopping him? And what’s the difference between holding over one week or 50?
Sure, what I’m trying to do is kind of fucked up, but who’s going to stop me? Like, do you have standing to sue me? Nooooope. Not many people do.
CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE 5, EXECUTIVE
SEC. 2. The Governor shallbe elected every fourth year at the same time and places as members of the Assembly and hold office from the Monday after January 1 following the election until a successor qualifies.
SEC. 11. The LieutenantGovernor, Attorney General, Controller, Secretary of State, and Treasurer shall be elected at the same time and places and for the same term as the Governor.
