On the Street Where You Live
Street fair season in San Francisco is the highlight of the year, as far as I’m concerned. Not so for many residents in the fairs’ neighborhoods, according to a Chron article.
The complaints are easy to predict: loud events, litter in the streets, no parking, blocked access to the neighborhoods. But, for most fairs, it’s one, maybe two days a year. Is it really THAT big a deal?
I don’t live in a neighborhood with a fair - though I can’t figure out why since Iriving Street seems like a good place to throw a big ‘ol party (the N-Judah could add some fun, too). I’d love to have a local event so I didn’t have to truck across the city for street food and local bands.
A survey says the Union, Haight, and North Beach fairs are the most unpopular among residents (that covers just about all the big ones, doesn’t it?).
The problem is usually booze. And North Beach does host more large scale parties than most any other neighborhood in the city (and I don’t count Castro on Halloween as a party - it’s an unorganized mob scene that I’ll never again attend).
But economically speaking - these things are pretty good for the City. So what gives? And don’t get rid of the booze, either. Washington Square Park, a good band, and a beer on a warm day is just about as good as it gets.
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For real! Why no Inner Sunsetfest? It could be the urban pastorale: block off 9th from Judah all the way into GG Park!
And yeah, free rides to & from on the N, natch.
Some sort of central party-planning body needs to get on this.
What do you like about street fairs? They all seem to be overcrowded temporary shopping districts to me.
Well, they are overcrowded - but they’re something to do - a reason to visit neighborhoods I either don’t go to often, or go to so often that I risk ‘hood-burnout.
they’re pretty much all the same - same vendors moving their wares from street to street - and i can seldom afford the art i would want and can only afford the crap i wouldn’t buy - but still - an excuse to be outdoors, people watch, eat fried fair food - it all adds up to fun for me.
except haight - haight was too crowded the one year i went.
To differentiate itself, the Inner Sunsetfest will offer socially-conscious Arizmendi baked goods to all.
Also, free Sliders burgers.