Free-cycle love

While San Francisco's enthusiasm for recycling can at times cross in righteousness, I admit, I ADORE having even our compost picked up at the door.

In addition to the compost / recycle love, there is a serious culture of 're-use'.   
That + generally good weather = 'Free-cycling' galore.
(Think 'garage sale' with no 'garage' and no 'sale' - stuff left on the curb for a new home)

Logan can attest, I have become somewhat obsessed with 'free-cycle' 

We got a sock drawer for our closet…

(OK, maybe not the cutest - but with a coat of spray paint, I have faith!)

Quincy got a new dresser…

(He picked orange for the spray paint transformation)

And a chair…

The fab neighborhood community site - Nextdoor.com - also fosters free-cycling - where very nearby neighbors post stuff they are getting rid of: 

We picked up some free moving boxes…

Even got a cushy, Pottery Barn chair….

Taking it to the next level, was a physical store we found that even had a whole room of free kids stuff

We got Zoe a bike there!

But my fave new concept, was a 'Clothing Swap'…..a bunch of girls invited to bring a potluck item + their old clothes.   We set out all the clothes & then it was a free-cycle bonanza!   Totally fun to 'shop' in a group & best yet - everything was free.

I brought a big bag of stuff ready to purge - but ended up bringing home at least half as much as I got rid of

So while you will get the 'evil eye' if you dare pack lunch in Zip-Lock baggies, the friendly 'sharing is caring' spirit & fun of street side finds shines way brighter.

Here's to if you're not using it, pass it along!

Lovin the taxpayer $$ at work

Everyone knows San Francisco isn't cheap.  People talk about the cost of housing all the time - most live in way smaller than average houses - yet pay way more than average.  Expensive housing = lots of property tax $……

And while no one likes that - I do love the perks of what appears to be a well funded Parks & Rec ($160MM well funded)

Silly amazing parks
With non-rusted out toys...

Fab views….

…even from the top of the slide

(tho I suspect that's wasted on the kids)

And people doing random things in them...

(Zoe & Ruby crash a bubble birthday party)

Seriously wide range of enrichment opportunities
If you are a dull person in SF, it is NOT the city's fault.  The SF Parks & Rec puts out so many enrichment programs & classes it needs its own fat catalog…


Zoe tried dance (too intense)

And is now in Holiday Sparkle Art crafts

(way more her speed - and while others grummbled about the strict Russian teacher 'Tanya', Zoe didn't seem to notice)

There is even free Zumba in the park right next to her Sparkle class

The boys are in their 3rd session of "Yo-yo tennis"

(YES, they learn tennis AND yo-yo skills in this class :)

And while the view (see the bridge?) wasn't enough to convince X to love Golf…

(Made it only once - I suspect the stand still and make tiny tweaks to position were not his thing!)

He LOVES his Carpentry class…

Meanwhile Logan & I have been partaking in 'boot camp' - a fairly typical circuit type gym class - but with a serious range of people & outfits..

The teacher looks like he is ready to go on a hike...

But the one that really gives me the giggles is the guy who looks like he is going to a BBQ...

(Lululemon?!   Nah - why not cargo shorts, short sleeve button down + black socks?!)

Have a random interest?   Odds are they have a class for it….one could seriously do it all in the SF Parks & Rec!

Here's to focusing on the park perks vs. the silly pricey

Mind what you volunteer for

When we first moved to Kiev, my motto was ‘turn down no invitation’.  On the quest to meet new people, I joined the International Women’s club, 2 book clubs, the PTA.  While never much into ballet, I eagerly went along to a girls’ night out at the ballet.

In the same spirit, I went on-line here looking for volunteer opportunities.  

I found a shelter looking for volunteers to work a street fair.   The idea: the shelter recruits volunteers & the street fair donates the ‘wages’ they would have paid to that shelter.  Easy + possibility to meet people + support a worthy cause = I signed up for a 4-hour shift at the Folsom Street Fair.

I remembered it was pretty alternative – read it described as “a true only in San Francisco original, the world’s largest leather subculture street fair”.

At first glance, it looked like any street fair

Food trucks getting ready...

Lots of sponsors to thank..

(hmm - past Miller Lite the sponsor list isn't so everyday) 

Friendly gate guard..

Relatively empty streets - with a bit of foreshadowing of what was to come…
A corset stand

Unusual outfits

Not exactly 'state fair uniforms' for the food & beverage crew

(the rules stated anyone working in food & bev had to cover their cheeks - cracked me up that they needed to make that clear!)

I got instructions on how to man my station – as a “Green Team member" 

(a nice way of saying a recycling & composting lady)

As the fair got busier, the 'subculture' bit got way more visible

Spanking...

Strappy straps…

Unabashedly naked...

Prisoner…

(Struck me that this leash holder looks decidedly 'librarian')

Full on pampered dom...

And just good old SF festive…

Clearly fab people watching - and while as the crowd thickened (& people got closer), I started to wonder if it was a bit more 'subculture' than I was ready for - it also reinforced that SF is truly a place where self expression is welcome.  AND that I can STOP giving any thought to what I 'should' wear.

Here's to new experiences AND to knowing when to jump in the deep end vs. dip a toe!

Prost to Oktoberfest – even if it’s more Oriental Trading Co than Munchen

Blame it on being ¼ German, or on always looking for an excuse to get festive…..for the past 7 years we’ve celebrated Oktoberfest. 

It started with a low-key, beer & brats BBQ with Quincy’s preschool class.  It has evolved to 100+ people parties & 3 trips to Munich to celebrate full-on Bavarian style.

This year we were a bit at odds - our flat isn’t big enough for an ‘invite the whole class’ event – and we couldn’t yet justify a trip back to Munich..

Luckily the city hosted an Oktoberfest on the Bay.

And - Eric & Jen (our partners in Munich Oktoberfest 2009) were up to the task

We found many elements as expected

The ambiance...

The food...

The jumbo beers & Bavarian outfits...

(of course, in litigation / paranoid USA the steins were plastic J)

Where it differed, was the range of ‘Oktoberfest’ inspired costumes…

Many Oriental Trading Co 1-piece / sexy durndle

Some – as you’d expect in SF - with their own interpretations….

While it was no Bavaria, we appreciated the spirit

Here’s to getting your festive on!