If the ubiquitous banners weren’t enough, anyone lingering anywhere along the route to the ballpark would be blind not to notice the All Star Hub Bub. I wish I had brought my camera to capture the sights:

The capsized wooden boat in McCovey Cove, and the distraught guys from Boston and dozens of others who’d brought their own rubber rafts but were denied launch by the Coast Guard.
Michael Baron’s pic sourced via Flickr

The mini carnival of sponsor tents & inflatable nightclubs etc set up across the water with their silly games & prizes and the kids & adults alike clamoring for free fruit flavored sample bottles of Phenylalanine laced “wellness” water and bite sized candy bars.

There were the abundance of cops, lingering at every intersection, and even some lounging at Phil’z Coffee, and the cheering crowds for Vlad, who impaled balls into the stands, but never once near the water, and had to do his interviews through a translator.

“Bezbol Been Barry Barry Good To Frisco… “at least this week.

That’s even if Barry decided to abuse his hometown fans by sitting out the Home Run Derby while supposedly taking up Jay Z’s offer to hang out a few blocks away at a 3 level nightclub party at Roe. When I went by a bit ago there was no sign of Barry or Jay Z out front, but a sizable contingent of glamour junkies in front of a well lit entry backdrop featuring various logos. Those who strutted by included former sportscasters and b-list rappers..hardly an H to the izzo Hollywood affair, but it’ll do on a Monday night in a sleepy little fishing village like ours I suppose.

I believe this All Star phenomenon has mostly peaked, as I write with smoke from tonight’s 11 pm fireworks show still fading in the air above the waterfront. It’s all over tonight but the paddy wagon rides from a scattered few drunken brawls & the sound of the can collectors.

By 5 pm Tuesday the ceremonial joust between visiting millionaires will be almost underway and the merchants can count the proceeds, no doubt including the Giants who’ve set up two additional Dug Out souvenir retail outlets across from the ballpark to reap the benefit of America’s never ending obsession with crap. Post yer fave “ALL STAR WEEK ” experience, sighting or whatnot in the comments…