Ticket Giveaway Winning Images
Erik Wilson, known as Generik11 on Flickr
Igor Uriarte, known as 20R3Mun on Flickr
They each get a ticket to Rick Prelinger's Lost Landscapes of San Francisco.
Thanks to everyone who submitted images and helped to get our Flickr pool started with a bang.
If you haven't bought your ticket to the screening yet, hurry up, because they're going fast.
“Missions, my lord, missions – that is what this world needs”
So wrote Father Junipero Serra, that great self-flagellator, to the Spanish Commandant General upon encountering the welcoming Ohlone Indians on the land that is now San Francisco. Congregations of Indians were struck with awe as Serra struck his body with chains, pounded his chest with stones, and burned it with hot candles.
He dreamed of a utopian 10-year apprentice program whereby, after intense "rehabilitation," the native residents would have fully adopted the customs of European living and could be given back some of their land as devout Catholics. More after the jump...
The Serpent Over the Bay
S is for Satanic Swerve. Troy Holden captures visually the dark side of the Bay Bridge enhancements.
It's not the last time someone will die in that S-curve. There will be more. We might have to rename the bridge the "The Devil's Bridge..."
(Via Caliber)
Valencia Street Lane Saga, 1925-2010
With the Mission on the verge of getting its Valencia Street West sidewalk back between 16th and 19th Streets, reader Brian Stokle points us to this nifty Flickr set complete with drawings of how Valencia Street looked over the ages. According to brunoboris, with the latest round of modifications, the sidewalks will return to their original width. More after the jump...
Mission Street Man Girdles
This sandwich board ad is a big, tall drink of WTF. Where to begin?
"Magical lingerie," perhaps? (For men!) Or, how about "Squeem" as a name for a product line (slight handicapping for being a Brazilian company)?
If those don't wake you up, we can take a look at the claim, "Get Fit Immediately." And, finally, take a look at that model. Does he look like a candidate for a man-girdle? Is the Squeem thing-a-ma-bob "magically" re-distributing his spare tire into his pecs and biceps (or his...Johnson)?
(spotted@ Mission & 21st)
Interview With San Francisco’s Guerrilla Archivist, Rick Prelinger
Different people have different instincts when they come across something previously unknown. Some want to hoard it for themselves or a peer group, and use it for a future payoff. Others want to share. More after the jump...
Ticket Giveaway: ‘Lost Landscapes of San Francisco’ Screening
The Long Now foundation has generously offered Spots Unknown readers two free tickets to Rick Prelinger's upcoming presentation of previously-unseen archival footage of a lost San Francisco. It happens on Friday, December 4th at the Herbst Theatre. If you're in town then, and want to go, read on...
Friday What The… Double Deck Golden Gate Bridge?
First of all, I can't tell which way most of those 1960s cars are traveling. One thing I do know: that bus and everyone on it are screwed. And wow, that sure is a lush and green post-Summer of Love San Francisco awaiting the hep cats that are fortunate to be headed the right direction.
(via Eric Fischer)
San Francisco Opium Den Photos circa 1889
My curiosity was piqued by this Kottke post, so that a quick search turned up these awesome photos of happy inhabitants. More after the jump...
Great Video Profile of a Cable Car Operator, Carpenter, and Mechanic
The fantastic footage (with ambient-only sound) and trivia, combined with an infusion of pride for San Francisco's past and present, make this segment, called simply, "Cable Cars," a great way to spend 5 minutes of computer time. Along the way, you'll meet: Ken Lunardi, operator; Norm Feyling, mechanic; and Bob Harris, carpenter.
Produced by Greg Burk for SFGTV's award-wining magazine series "City In Focus."
Related book: Historic Photos of San Francisco
From Amazon
From Powell's
We Do Love Our Mayor
The latest single-serving site from the creator of BarackObamaIsYourNewBicycle.com:
Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve
At first I was a little ashamed that I'd never been in the forest on Mount Sutro, officially known as the Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve, even after living in the city for almost 14 years. But, after asking around, I discovered most of my long-time-resident friends haven't been there either. So now it's their turn to feel ashamed. (More after the jump.)
PlantSF Offering Free Eco-Friendly Sidewalk Landscaping
Heard the jackhammers lately?
The city is forcing property owners to rip up and replace the busted sidewalk squares that front their buildings. But they don't have to be replaced with the same old, boring slabs. The sidewalk in front of your residence could look more like these.
DPW's Bureau of Urban Forestry issues low-cost permits allowing property owners to convert a portion of their sidewalk into an attractive landscaped area.
Even better, this recently came across the @SpotsUnknown Twitter feed:
FREE SIDEWALK LANDSCAPING DESIGN & INSTALLATION
In the Sunset District sidewalk gardens can not only make our streetscapes beautiful but also help recharge the aquifer and reduce sewer overflow contamination of the ocean.
Plant*SF and the San Francisco Parks Trust are offering the free installation of a demonstration sidewalk landscaping garden in the Sunset District using native and drought tolerant plants and permeable pavers. Corner properties are especially encouraged to apply.
To have a property be considered to receive free sidewalk landscaping, interested parties should email their contact information and property address to info@PlantSF.org by 5pm December 10, 2009. See PlantSF.org for examples of sidewalk gardens.
Funding for this project comes from the City of San Francisco Community Challenge Grant Program (CCG) with sponsorship from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.
Outside of the Sunset District, there is a robust community of city eco-nerds who will help you design and install a sustainable sidewalk garden no matter where in the city you live. Start at the Plant*SF and Nature In The City websites.
Haunting Dia de los Muertos Video Footage
KevMo over at MissionMission points us to this melancholy yet joyful edit of Dia de los Muertos footage scored with "Hellhole Ratrace" by Girls. He also laments the overwhelming whiteness of the celebration in recent years. I think the video/music mix itself captures that duality.
For extra weirdness, check out the video creator's other clip.
1962: SAVE the BAY AREA from CHOKING to DEATH (with BART)!
My favorite bit from this scan of an original flyer in support of Proposition "A": "All statements in this leaflet are accurate and factual." That reassuring disclaimer apparently made this passage adequately persuasive:
Who endorsed Proposition "A"? Taxpayer's groups... labor... doctors, lawyers, merchants, housewives, educators, Republicans, Democrats - everybody who wants a prosperous Bay Area. Opposition? Scattered, local, self-interested.
Indeeeed. The proposition required a district-wide 60% "yes" to pass; it got 61.2%, with the help of folks who cynically voted for it even though they wanted, and expected, it to fail. More after the jump...
Tokyo Pop Culture Exhibit Coming to Japantown
New People's Superfrog gallery in Japantown will host an exhibit, "Tokyo Creators Market," that includes cut out artist Mikito Ozeki. Check him out using his Exacto, free-hand, to make pieces out of vinyl records:
Get lost and get connected across America this summer...
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