Sunday, 6/29/06 @ 11am
The months of May and June are simply the best time to be out in the City, because yet another street fair is popping up this weekend:
The 29th annual Haight St. Fair
The last time I went to this thing, I think I was about 16 or 17 yrs old and I got really claustrophobic from all the crazies that had taken over the once anti-mainstream location. As we all know, Haight St. was pretty much the birth place of the 1960s "for peace" revolution. Everyone dropping acid, having tons of sex to create a new generation that "will fight the power" and girls running around butt naked with daisies in their hair. Some of the people from this generation (a lot of them whom are now our parents) still linger in the Haight area, never wanting to face reality or respond to the requirements assigned by modern society. To adapt, a lot of them own shops which sell pipes and 1960s hippie memorabilia, but in my opinion, they're just profiting off of tourism, not actually keeping the dream alive.
Haight St. is also now predominantly the home of runaways. Mid-west farm kids come out here thinking that Haight St. still carries it's authenticity and people will open their homes to them, give them guidance on how to change the world and hopefully figure out who they are. Upon arrival is a rude awakening waiting to slap the shit out of them. Thier first night here is on a dirty, soiled cement block and they realize that Haight St. is not focused on helping your fellow brother, but tourism and well, shopping. Suddenly broke and homeless, they simply become street kids. They get all tattooed and pierced the fuck up, dabble in drugs and randomly find stray dogs they can adopt. Seriously.
Mayor Newson created a specific program geared towards clearing these kids out. If you go to City Hall and tell them you followed the Hippie Trail across the US and are now a lost soul, they let you make one phone call to mommy and daddy and give you a free bus ticket to go where ever you need to go. Go home baby. Get the fuck out.
Despite my soap box moment, I am still going to the fair because it brings out every different kind of city folk, which can be really rejuvinating. I can be out in the sun, see old friends, get drunk, eat tons of yummy food and get hit on my cute break-dancers. Honestly, I'm a little nervous about all the dirtiness and rubbing elbows, but that's a street fair for ya. Holla.
Peace out man.
HC
The 29th annual Haight St. Fair
The last time I went to this thing, I think I was about 16 or 17 yrs old and I got really claustrophobic from all the crazies that had taken over the once anti-mainstream location. As we all know, Haight St. was pretty much the birth place of the 1960s "for peace" revolution. Everyone dropping acid, having tons of sex to create a new generation that "will fight the power" and girls running around butt naked with daisies in their hair. Some of the people from this generation (a lot of them whom are now our parents) still linger in the Haight area, never wanting to face reality or respond to the requirements assigned by modern society. To adapt, a lot of them own shops which sell pipes and 1960s hippie memorabilia, but in my opinion, they're just profiting off of tourism, not actually keeping the dream alive.
Haight St. is also now predominantly the home of runaways. Mid-west farm kids come out here thinking that Haight St. still carries it's authenticity and people will open their homes to them, give them guidance on how to change the world and hopefully figure out who they are. Upon arrival is a rude awakening waiting to slap the shit out of them. Thier first night here is on a dirty, soiled cement block and they realize that Haight St. is not focused on helping your fellow brother, but tourism and well, shopping. Suddenly broke and homeless, they simply become street kids. They get all tattooed and pierced the fuck up, dabble in drugs and randomly find stray dogs they can adopt. Seriously.
Mayor Newson created a specific program geared towards clearing these kids out. If you go to City Hall and tell them you followed the Hippie Trail across the US and are now a lost soul, they let you make one phone call to mommy and daddy and give you a free bus ticket to go where ever you need to go. Go home baby. Get the fuck out.
Despite my soap box moment, I am still going to the fair because it brings out every different kind of city folk, which can be really rejuvinating. I can be out in the sun, see old friends, get drunk, eat tons of yummy food and get hit on my cute break-dancers. Honestly, I'm a little nervous about all the dirtiness and rubbing elbows, but that's a street fair for ya. Holla.
Peace out man.
HC
posted by Hella Caitlin at 10:08 AM
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