The Golden Gate Bridge was closed in both directions following a head-on crash that happened around 3:15 pm.
Update 5:05 pm: Lanes have just reopened. Nevertheless: Check traffic conditions before heading that way.
Following the jump, the gory details.
That column in the middle of Union Square, it’s topped with the goddess of Victory on top. Well her Greek name is Nike, and this weekend below her a whole tent city has been set up for thousands of athletic women from all over the country that are in town to participate in the 2007 Nike Women’s Marathon.
There’s an “expotique” built up around the concepts of fun & fitness, and Nike’s offering runners free manicures, massages, and a heads up on all sorts of Nike related whatnot. This popular and completely sold out annual event has brought in heap loads of dough for Luekemia & Lymphoma related causes, an estimated some $40 million in the first three years. This year, the event’s 4th, is expected to pull in over 18 million alone, from the efforts of some 20,000 participants, up from 15,000 last year, registered from 11 countries & all 50 states. All the slots were filled in just 3 and a half days, and I even saw registration spots being auctioned on Ebay.
Like the sneakers, this isn’t a one size fits all race, so there’s also a half marathon for those who don’t feel up to the whole 26 mile challenge.
On Sunday, the runners leave Union Square at 7 am and head through the downtown financial district past the TransAmerica tower, along the Embarcadero past the Wharf, and Marina Green into the Presidio and out to the Great Highway, through Golden Gate Park and south along Lake Merced, finishing just north of the Great Highway along the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, event organizers have even set up randomly placed DJ stations, and live entertainment options to keep the runners entertained all the way to the sea. If you’d like to see the 26 mile course breeze by in about 11 high speed minutes via streaming video, click on the windows media file link below the jump:
This month, as spring begins it’s mighty reign over hill & dale, local hopped beverage lovers have additional reasons to rejoice including the 24th Annual San Francisco International Beer Festival at Fort Mason on April 28th . 
Ye need not wait that long though, as a week long repeal of prohibition anniversary bash is ongoing at North Beach’s Rogue Ales Public House now through Sunday.
Indeed many frothy quaffs await yer presence all over the region with details after the jump. In addition to the 27 ales Rogue has on tap, they now have their own spirits line including a hazelnut spiced rum, and on Tuesday debuted the first pours of their Spruce gin. They also have grub including Kobe beef burgers, and on Friday they will feature a pig roast.
Things really get rolling this weekend with Saturday’s Rogue Olympics where entrants celebrate the repeal of prohibition by competing in activities like the Washington Sq tricycle obstacle course, beer pong and a root beer chug off. Sunday Rogue wraps up their weeklong anniversary bash with a pajama party bloody mary brunch and the swearing in for dogs into the thirsty & esteemed Rogue Nation, an honor once reserved only for people.
Other info on brew related local events coming up this month, including the Meet The Brewers dinner at Edlo’s for the occasionally hungry & unusually organized beer enthusiast after the jump…
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The absolutely astounding weather we enjoyed through Thanksgiving day amazed all of our group of 11 who convened in SF from points south and east. After a day of feasting, we ventured out to take advantage of the diversion of the throngs towards the shopping malls to enjoy a ‘touristy’ traipse around the nature sights of the city.
A drive through GGPark and up through the Presidio found us at Chrissy Field, and the still, sunny weather motivated us to take a stroll down the gravel path towards the Warming Hut.
It was great to see the family clusters at the picnic stations along the route, but what I really appreciated seeing were the many people lining up on the extended boardwalk jutting out into the bay. Folks strolling, sunbathing and fishing in jeans and shortsleeves.
I often lament about missing the beauty of Fall in the Pacific Northwest, but on Friday, cruising around my new city, I revelled in the beauty of a sun-drenched post-holiday afternoon, and was very glad for it.
(of course, then came today, but that’s another post)
Just got back from a bike ride. It’s so nice! Two jet skis were out, along with a sailboat pulling an inner tube. Started in North Beach and went up to the Bay Bridge, then back along Embarcadero to the Golden Gate Bridge, then back via Marina to North Point Park. Beautiful weather from tip to tip- summer is here (for a brief, fleeting moment at least!)
T-shirt all the way and sat near the Warming Hut for awhile without a chill. Really beautiful.
I just got my e-newsletter from San Francisco Brew Pub Club and thought I’d pss on that they’ve got lotsa suds related stuff on their calendar if anyone wants to annoint themselves with fresh brewed hops & barley byproducts.
My fave is the beer cruise that never leaves the dock…The Third Annual “Brews on the Bay” on the deck of the Jeremiah O’Brien Liberty Ship on Saturday, September 9 …
Over 50 flavas overflowing from noon until 4:30p.m. under the guise of The San Francisco Brewers Guild. There will also be live music , tours of the ship and The Thirsty Bear will be offering up tasty tapas. Local SF brew pubs offer deals on tickets - $30 includes all your beer, or buy yer way in on the gangway for $40.
More hoppy trails after the jump
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Marina playground’s turtle sculpture, roasting in our well-deserved newfound sunshine.
Rented some kids today and headed out to two different playgrounds. God the weather was amazing! We slathered on the sunblock.
Joe DiMaggio Playground
– I was really impressed, and as my sister always points out, the location is key because it’s, very close to coffee, namely Cafe Columbus, home of the amazing scherma. Right at Lombard and Chestnut in North Beach.
Marina Playground
– Not having kids, I never really took note of this place, but when pressed remembered there were some bright structures near the Marina library. Wow, it is by far the best playground I’ve been in, but I have to say not as close to good cafes as DiMaggio. Good points: soft squishy tread, lots of structures with interesting details, and neat tile work along the walls. Also near older kid stuff like baseball, basketball, and a soccer field.
Henry Rollins performs on his spoken word tour tonight at the Palace of Fine Arts. I watched his “Talking from the Box” DVD a few years ago and was quite impressed with his insights and rhetoric. For those of you asking, “Who is Henry Rollins?”, I’ll give you a short and sweet bio.
Henry Rollins was born Henry Garfield in Washington DC, in 1961. When he was 20, a friend gave him a copy of Black Flag’s Nervous Breakdown. At an impromptu show in a bar, he asked to sing “Clocked In.” As vocalist Dez Cadena was going to switch to guitar, the band invited Garfield to a rehearsal. Impressed by his stage presence, they asked him to become their permanent vocalist. Rollins toured and recorded with Black Flag from 1981 until their breakup in 1986. Rollins began publishing his own books during his time with Black Flag. His early efforts were self-made volumes (photocopied and stapled), though he quickly began printing chapbooks before moving on an independent publisher. He also tours as a spoken-word artist, focusing mostly on social topics, as well as recounting his life experiences. His blend of self-deprecating humor and serious discussion of important social issues has gained him great popularity. In 2004 he became an outspoken human rights activist, most vocally a crusader for gay rights. He has pinpointed the rights for gays to marry as a “vital issue impeding on the rights of Americans today.” He was the host of a benefit concert called “WedRocks” to raise money for a pro-gay-marriage organization. He is also a spokesperson for the WM3 Legal Defense Fund.
Johnny Wilson
Found this behind the Exploratorium this weekend. To the left of this it said “DROPIN SCIENCE” and I’ve been trying to figure out if that’s a reference to Big Will Rosario’s album or a KRS One lyric and so I turned to my psychic-all-week friend Glenda on that instant messenger doodad:
Jason: Glenda!
Jason: Help me not be white for a second.
Glenda: OMG i’ve been psychic ALL . FUCKING . WEEK .
Jason: Oh shit, what.
Glenda: i was JUST thinking about you.
Jason: AWESOME
Glenda: totally.
Jason: Okay, check this and translate:
Jason: “Dropin’ Science”
Jason: Is this a term I might know from hiphop?
Glenda: well
Glenda: “science” is slang for street knowledge or street smarts
Glenda: but in rap terms
Glenda: it more means “rhymes”
Glenda: like, logic
Glenda: to drop science
Jason: Got it.
Glenda: because there’s the beats, and then there’s the logic
So now I’m a little more cool for knowing, but a little less cool for revealing my lack of with-it-ness to you all, so that’s about a zero-sum result. Yay, math!
