Parking Day Report
Got a bit of a late start to the day, but still managed to see a bunch of cool stuff and meet a bunch of cool people.
Greg and crew were set up right outside Chronicle books:
Looked like a very cool place:
But I wanted to see as many parks as I could, so off I went to the David Baker + Partners installation. They treated me to a yummy smoothy.
Then I had to double-time it over to the signature event of the day - the marriage! There were a couple of signs up in opposition to Prop 8:
Here’s what the scene looked like about a half-hour after the main ceremony:
Cake:
Band - I didn’t catch their name, but they were very good:
Local, Portlander, and one of the grooms:
My day took a pleasant day for the ‘even better’ when I met someone from The Trust for Public Land - they’re one of the event’s organizer, probably the main organizer. I learned about one of the parks I hadn’t yet seen, and would not have seen, were it not for finding out they were going to be ‘open late’ - with an art gallery opening (and free wine) to round things out. The ‘Ride Green’ installation was a sight to behold:
One of the artists’ websites describes the installation:
The “Ride Green/Green Ride” installation will utilize recycled bikes accumulated primarily through donation. The home PARK(ing) base located outside of Reaves Gallery will house 40 bikes versus one car: more road, less resources. In addition, satellite bikes will be posted at Huf, Mac and assorted other locations throughout Hayes Valley and the Civic Center area with a total of 77 bicycles.
It was just a massive visual experience. All I could think was, ‘Wow!’ And lots of passers-by thought the same. One guy almost seemed to jump out the window of a passing car when he yelled ‘Bicycles!’ (larger image here). Reaves Gallery.
The view from across the street:
From the front:
Cool little Bike Friday from one of the attendees:
T-shirt promoting all the cycleries and other organizations that helped make the installation possible:
Congratulations to Lucky and Matthew on a fantastic PARK(ing) Day art installation.
The Parking Day ‘Pocket Guide’ was pretty great:
And since I was having such a great day, I figured there could be only one proper way to finish it off - by going to see the best band that will probably play in your town this year. MBAR is originally from Portland. Coincidence?
…A short video of the wedding band:
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September 23rd, 2008 at 10:45 am
When I look at the bikes in the neighborhood I ask myself: How much green paint was used/consumed? What happens to the bikes afterward–junked or perhaps donated to those who don’t have transportation? Who’s going to want to ride an all green bike? Who’s going to cut the remaining ones from parking meters throughout Civic Center(some are already stripped of parts)? Oh, there’s a homeless guy riding one.
On the surface of things a semi-neat idea; let’s see it have some practical use too.