OK Green Tortoise peeps, it’s that time again- Head over to
Golden Gate Park for the 12th Annual Power to the Peaceful Festival!
This festival has it all: Yoga, artists, music, awesome food, and all the
hippie-tastic activities you would ever need. The festival in Speedway Meadows.
What’s that you say? Oh, the entrance fee? There is no entrance fee- these
peace-lovin’ peeps want everyone to enjoy the festivities, although they do ask
for a $5 donation.
Saturday, September 11th is the main day of the
festival, with the day kicking off with a 9:00-11:00AM community yoga session.
Don’t feel comfortable holding your tree pose in front of a bunch of experienced
yogis? Worry not, people of all levels of experience are welcome.
After you’ve downward doggy-ed your way to a more peaceful morning,
check out all of the awesome bands performing:
Michael Franti and Spearhead
Crystal Bowersox
Rebelution
Rupa and the April Fishes
Sambada
Sellassie
Loco Bloco
Rhonda Nicole
David “Lebo” le Batard
If you’re not feeling the music, check out all of the other
displays around the festival. There’s a DJ tent, a Healing Sanctuary (for you
who are still extra stressed over that morning yoga performance), and many
local artists displaying their work.
Check our their website for the full details, and we’ll see you there! Groovy.
So Burning man has started up and the mass exodus has gone the way of the road to Nevada and all sorts of flaming effigies therein. But that's no reason to be glum and feel like you're missing out. It's all the more reason, as I see it, to party like fucking rockstars and let those desert rats know what's up here in the Bay area. So here are some shows coming up that may be of interest.
- Teeeth, Hunt With A Cat at the Hemlock 21+ $6 9pm
- Gram Rabbit, Chambers, Part Time at the Rickshaw Stop, S.F. $10 8pm
- Jenny and Johnny featuring Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice at the Rio Theatre, Santa Cruz $15 8pm
sep 2 - thu
- Barn Owl, Starving Weirdos, Pulse Emitter, Danny Paul Grody, Rene Hell, En at Cafe Du Nord, S.F. 21+ $10 ($45/four show pass) 7:30pm (On Land Festival)
- Arab On Radar, Thee Oh Sees, No Babies at the Eagle, S.F. 21+ [Arab On Radar west coast tour canceled]
- Stereo Total (Germany) at Slim's
- The Growlers, Shannon and the Clams, Spencey Dude and the Doodles at the Rickshaw Stop, S.F.8pm
sep 3 - fri
- MAYYORS, Ty Segall, Culture Kids, Blasted Canyons at Serra Bowl, Daly City FREE 8pm sharp [one of the last MAYYORS shows, don't sleep]
- Oneohtrix Point Fever, White Rainbow, Pete Swanson, Operative, Robert A.A. Lowe, Eli Keszler/Ashley Paul, Golden Retriever at Cafe Du Nord 21+ $10 ($45/four show pass) 7:30pm (On Land Festival)
- Everything Must Go, Fracas, P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S. (pdx), Disciples, Fukm at Gilman $8 8pm
sep 4 - sat (in keeping with the burning man theme this is the day they light the guy on fire and dance around naked and such, so this would be excellent night to paint the town red as it were)
- Spider Heart Slim's $15, Ok my friend Gail is one of the main forces in this band, she is accompanied by a trio of musical genius'. Basically this band is like something you would hear David Lynch getting you to listen to in when he made Twin Peaks, only even better because they are their own band as well. So if you want to hear some awesome music then you should check out this show, I'll be there.
- Blunt Mechanic at the Plymouth house 6pm, I know it sounds weird, trust me I agree, but I have yet another friend from back in my college days that is a member of this band. She is a percussionist and quite excellent at that. They are from Seattle and I found out she will also be playing THE SAME NIGHT. I am conflicted so I might just try to go to both shows and make it a wild and crazy night. This band is kind of indie and kind of experimental, or in other words their sound defies description at best. But they are awesome in my opinion so check it out.
- The Alps, Zelienople, Xela, Date Palms, Grasslung, Metal Rouge, Le Revelateur at Cafe Du Nord 21+ $10 ($45/four show pass) 7:30pm (On Land Festival)
- Garotas Suecas at the Uptown, Oakland 21+ $10 8pm sept5 - sun
- Charalambides, Grouper, Dan Higgs, Bill Orcutt, Ilyas Ahmed, Common Eider King Eider, Higuma at the Swedish American Hall a/a $20 ($45/four show pass) 6:30pm (On Land festival)
- Cold Cave, Abe Vigoda at the Great American Music Hall $16 9pm
I know what you've been thinking. You've been hearing all this stuff about Oakland being a worth while destination for your Bay Area adventure but you don't know what to do. There really is no good guide book to show a person where the resurgence is coming from because its really all about the people who live there. Its the Urban Farming movement, the Slow Foods movement, the musicians and the artists that have revived the city.
So I have found that the best way to explore this new frontier of tourism is to go to a festival. See the people and eat the amazing food. The Real Street Foods Festival is the perfect excuse to head over to the Easy Bay. Get pumped for three days jam-packed with awesome food craft
collaborations and performances, urban homesteading contests and how-tos, and
sweet entertainment. So go ahead and block out Aug 27th, 2pm-9pm, Aug 28th,
10:30am-9pm, and Aug 29th, 10:30am-5pm, on your calendar because Eat Real's
bringing the party to Jack London Square.
You can get to the festival either by taking the BART train from Montgomery St. station to 12th St Oakland. Or you can take the Ferry to the Jack London Square pier. Either way you need to go to this festival.
Outside
lands is happening right now and as I see giant groups of Canadians
heading out for their two days of indie music mayhem I
thought I would point out some other outdoor shows that
are happening this summer.
During
the entire month of August and the first part of September their are
daily "lunchtime concerts" that are happening up and down
Market St. and at tons of public spaces in the city.People
In Plazas produces free musical concerts in San Francisco outdoor
spaces. Their mission is to activate urban open spaces through
events which generate social congregation. Their aim is to bring
these spaces to the status of "everybody's neighborhood."
These shows have music from all over the world. For more info and
specific dates go to http://www.peopleinplazas.org/
This
September we also have Shakespeare in the park starting up.
Returning for his eighth season, Director Kenneth Kelleher presents
Shakespeare’s Two
Gentlemen of Verona, among
the lighter of the Bard’s fares. The story goes like this:
Valentine and Proteus are best friends from Verona. Problem is,
Proteus falls in love with Valentine’s hot new girlfriend and dumps
his own faithful girl Julia. Julia makes a plan to get her man back,
a plan that includes cross-dressing and some broken laws. SO grab a
friend and a carefully concealed bottle of wine and enjoy a little
bit of free culture. Its gonna be in the Presidio @ Presidio Main
Post Parade Ground Lawn | 34 Graham St. For more info on dates
go to http://www.sfshakes.org/park/index.html
We were excited to find out that one of our employees, Raja, happens to also be in a band. The bands name is Jahlectrik, a funky blend of reggae, some jazz, world beats, and whatever moves them. A band that follows the kind of principal that always makes great music in my opinion, that principal being, "Let's make music and have a good time together." They recently released an EP titled Balance Which has been rocketing up the itunes world music charts, making it to number 7, top ten baby, way to go. So if you are interested in music from the soul and you love the green tortoise check it out.
And if you need to book a trip on one of our most awesome bus trips, come see one of our lovely and helpful Travel Office helpers, besides Raja you may be helped by the illustrious Ryn, or the spicy Mari. We love helping people find exceptional adventures to fit their travels and their lives. So have a great day and a wonderful life.
Upcoming tours:
Yosemite 3 Day $270 August 9th
Western Trail 7 Day $500 August 9th
Pacific Trek 7 Day $490 August 19th, So all of our tours are exceptionally great but I want to take a minute to talk about this trip as it needs more people on it and it's absolutely great. Among the many activities involved you will get to see some lava beds, which are flow vents that you can walk through as these day's their just caves. A stop at some lovely hot springs broken up into different pools overlooking a beautiful river. Lassen Park which holds the moniker of the least visited national park, why we can't be sure other than people not knowing about it because it's absolutely amazing, housing in its confines several different kinds of volcanoes as well as a camp site near a Cinder Cone, a kind of crater created by a one off volcano. You will also stop at Crater lake, a beautifully glorious lake in Oregon. If that isn't enough to peak your interest, you can have a fun night out on the town, once in Shasta and again in the quaint little town of Ashland. So come by and see us, this trip is going to be excellent.
So, I'm a Bay Area native, and as such I never know what to tell people to do. To me, Berkeley really isn't that interesting. Unless of course we are having one of our crazy festivals. My favorite is the Berkeley Kite Festival and its happening this weekend! It's really easy to get there by public transportation. Take the BART to Downtown Berkeley and get on the 51 bus and bam you're there.
Kites aren’t just for kids any more. Experience the excitement and
artistry of modern kite flying. You’ll find something for everyone at
the Berkeley Kite Festival. From the Giant Creature Kites as big as
houses, high flying kite fights, to the free Kite Making and Candy Drop
for kids, you don’t want to miss the 2010 Berkeley Kite Festival.
Saturday, July 31 & Sunday, August 1.
HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES:
» Free Kite Making, 11:00-1:00
» Free Candy Drops, 2:30
» Free Kite Flying Lessons, 11:00-4:00
» Free Rokkaku Battle
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
» Worlds Largest Octopus Kite
» Humongous Kites: Bigger than a house and longer than a train!
» Team Kite Ballet
» The Berkeley Kite Wranglers & Friends
» West Coast Kite Championship competition presented by BASKL
» 20,000 sq. ft. of Giant Creature Kites from New Zealand!
» Taiko Drummers
» Japanese-Style Rokkaku Kite Battle for the Skies
» Giant Kite Sales Tent
» Manufacturers’ Demonstrations
» Free Kite Making, Kite Flying Lessons and Candy Drop
» Great Food & Music
» Arts & Crafts Booths
» Sunday Evening Dinner Cruise on the Empress Hornblower Dining Yacht
The city of San Francisco has hosted “Sunday Streets” on the streets of
San Francisco since late May and will continue to do so well into
October. “Sunday Streets” on a Sunday? Isn’t that redundant? What does
this mean? Sunday Streets is modeled after Ciclovia, which translates
roughly to “Bike Path” in Spanish. Every Sunday in that country, more
than 70 miles of roads are closed to cars and 1.5 million runners,
walkers, skaters, and cyclists hit the streets.
In
2008, San Francisco brought Ciclovia to the city, closing off selected
roads on two Sundays. The events were a big success, drawing 30,000
people. This year, varying streets will be closed once a month through
October.
The remaining “Sunday Streets” will take place on August 22, September
19 and October 24. The events typically last from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
On August 22 the event takes place along the Great Highway, situated
near Ocean Beach out in the outer Sunset district. All of the details
for the last two events of the year have not been released yet but the
September Sunday will take place around the Western Addition, the
Northern Panhandle and Japantown. The October event will be situated
around the Civic Center and the Tenderloin.
So here in San Francisco we have a faire for whatever floats your specific boat. And even if bondage isn't your bag its till really fun to go ogle the sexy leather daddies and mamma's. Most people have heard of the Folsom Street Fair which is by far the biggest BSDM fair around. That one is in September 26th and we'll be posting about that one later this summer but for now we have the... wait for it... wait for it...
Up Your Alley Fair ( get it?)
Sunday, July 25, 2010- 11:00 am to 6:00 pm in SOMA| Dore Alley and Folsom St, San Francisco, CA
This isn’t an indie fair with hand-knit scarves or a baked goods; the Up Your Alley Fair is full of vendors to satisfy your needs–so long as it’s bondage, animal roleplay, kink, leather straps, whips, paddles, latex outfits or suspension. Since 2008, the fair was expanded to include more booths from local organizations like Blow Buddies and Citadel and a stage with local DJs Mike Russell and Brian Maier. Of course, street BDSM demonstrations are still an integral part of the fair.
Usually, around 12,000 leatherfolk attend, making it a smaller but more local event (read: fewer tourists) than the reknown Folsom Street Fair. In fact, the FSF has become such a large, internationally-attended event of around 200,000 that UYA is designed to be specific: the demographic is almost exclusively male, mostly gays into hardcore and BDSM while Folsom is the more pansexual, gender-diverse fair.
Who wants to go see some music at a couple odd festivals this weekend? I know I do. So I will take some time to talk about a couple awesome festivals that will be rocking our fair city with some excellent metal and punk.
First up we have the Tidal Wave Metal Festival 12.
So if you're like me you ask, what's better than 2 days of some awesome metal bands? How about a FREE metal festival. That's right kiddies a free festival that goes from noon till 6 at McLAREN PARK'S JERRY GARCIA AMPHITHEATER! One of my absolute favorite bands will be playing, Giant Squid. As well as a slough of other great bands like, Witchaven, Abysmal Dawn, Amber Asylum, Elk, and many more. So I plan on going to this show to see as much of it as I can before heading over to the second festival.
The Second show of utter greatness is the 3rd Fuckfest.
So this may seem a bit abrasive, but hey it's a punk show. I could list the bands but trust me, you probably don't know them and frankly it changes on a fairly daily basis, as happens in anarchic world of punk. So what really matters? 1 San Francisco has a punk rock legacy and this show helps push that legacy further. 2 $7 bottomless beer. What more do you need to go to this show? I it being held at what some like to call Toxic beach. Basically if you go down 24th st until you hit watter you'll find it, if it doesn't find you.
Oh Independence day... more than just an excuse to feel superior to your British friends; the 4th of July comes with FIREWORKS!
So.. what does a classy country like America do to celebrate their freedom one might ask? Well.. we eat. We drink. And we blow shit up!! **WOO!!** Barbecues are the traditional banquet, dripping with saucy goodness and no napkins allowed of course.
Those of you familiar with the workings of the Green Tortoise know we usually provide live music on Sunday nights. However! This week, in the spirit of America we're going to help you get drunk and see some sweet fireworks! We'll be taking a group of people out and about, ending up by the beach at Fisherman's Warf. Can't you just imagine yourself snuggled up against some beautiful foreign person sitting right here... in san francisco with a big piece of barbecued pork?
Alright, lets say you came with your significant other... ( for some reason...) and want to do something away from the group? Well! The tortoise has you covered. That's what our big shell is for! Here's a comprehensive list of other things to do in SF if you're here on the 4th.
Palo Alto Chili Cook Off! All day! For Free! In the heart of silicon valley, palo alto is home to the biggest tech firms in the world. It is also home to some really gnarly chili! This is the best chance to get down to the cyberworld of the south bay, even if you don't know a keyboard from a motherboard, at least you can still gorge on chili.
Oakland Patriotic Picnic and Ice Cream Social! 12pm until 6pm 10$ Entry. This IS your grandmother's picnic. This historica Pardee Home Museum in downtown Oakland hosts a costumed patriotic picnic and stereopticon Ice Cream social. Admission to this 1910 - themed event includes live entertainment, including ragtime music and popular songs of the era.
Family fun in Oakland! 12pm for FREE! The city is hosting a fun daytime event for families with food, a petting zoo, magicians, Kinetic Art's Youth Circus Troupe, Stilt Walking, farmers and artisan markets, live music and more.
All American Concert by the Golden Gate Park Band 1pm for FREE! The always entertaining Golden Gate Park Band performs from its huge repertoire of music of all styles and eras, while wearing cool uniforms. A not to be missed San Francisco tradition.
FREE HOT DOG DAY! In the Inner Richmond from 1pm to 6pm. The Frankenart Mart is a small galleryin the Inner Richmond. Packed with original exhibits and strange artwork, they also have a monthly free hotdog day! and its the 4th! Also, this is their 4th annual Hot Dog Drawing Contest. Amazing.
San Francisco Opera 2010, Stern Grove Festival. 2pm for FREE! A celebration of american music with the San Francisco Opera and Chorus!
SF Mime Troupe "Posibilidad" Opening Weekend at Dolores Park. FOR FREE! 2pm. The Tony Award-winning San Francisco Mime Troupe opens its 51st season with Posibilidad, or death of Worker. It'll probably be hot out there but an amazing time! Mimes on 4th of July?
Free tango lessons in Union Square at 2pm! 2PM TO 4PM just for fun, and free for all! If you're going to take a detour out into the city, might as well hit up a little midday dance. Get those awkward boys out there and feelin their hips!
At the Warf! from 3-930 pm. Street performers, food, fun and tons of people.
At 9:30pm the fireworks start! This is the time to grab your honey, or.. at least a beer and OooOohh and Ahh until the finale!
Stern Grove Festival Association is a non-profit
organization committed to providing the people of the Bay Area with
admission-free access to diverse performing arts.
Every year since 1938, the organization presents Stern Grove
Festival, an admission-free performing arts series, in Sigmund Stern
Grove, a beautiful outdoor
amphitheater located at 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard in San
Francisco.
In 2010, Stern Grove Festival will present its 73rd consecutive season,
providing the community with the best performing arts, completely
admission-free.
Priceless 2010 is right around the corner - July 2 - 5, 2010
. Just four hours north of San Francisco we will celebrate under the stars surrounded by the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains. This is our fifth anniversary! We're pulling out all the stops and adding an extra day. Camping, music, art - it's a festival like no other you've seen.
Come get crazy with us!
MUSIC:
We're bringing it hard this year.
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/alreadythere/197514350/>From Detroit to Toronto, slammin' beats to beautiful vocals, we've got three days and three nights of amazing music for y'all to go nuts to.
With lots of names you know, and probably some you don't, we've been working hard to bring you this and can't wait to see y'all erupt on the dance floor, go ballistic on the beach and do the muffin-hop at the chill stage.
One thing that hasn't changed about Priceless over the years: we love art, interaction, and surprises!
Thanks to all the artists who submitted proposals for art grants. We have more projects that we'll be adding to this page soon, keep checking back!
Interlude:Activate (Faernworks)
<http://priceless.false-profit.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/maintain-adorn_1706e_sm.jpg>Mixed Media Photography with some installation accoutrement. ~~~>> think of it this way-its like putting together your life, a giant puzzle.
Petal Pushah (Da Joolz)
<http://priceless.false-profit.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/PetalPushah.jpg> Petal Pushah seeks to engage audiences into a reflection on their perception of nature.
Headroom (Brent Bishop)
<http://priceless.false-profit.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/Lord_Hestershire_02.jpg>The Head Room is a suspended, non-descript cardboard box that contains an entire world within. Upon entering, the unsuspecting participant is suddenly transported to the stately world of Lord Hestershire-a vision of tub-bubbly whimsy and sheer pimpery.
The Soundcave (Tyson Ayers)
<http://priceless.false-profit.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/2-Sound_Cave_Art_Night.jpg>The Soundcave is a room sized musical instrument that transforms nine salvaged pianos into an interactive chamber of echoes.
Capacitor (Jodi Lomask)
<http://priceless.false-profit.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/Capacior.jpg> Capacitor, San Francisco's interdisciplinary dance company, is renowned for conceptually- rich, bound-breaking performances.
Galaxy Conduit (Rich Trapani)
<http://priceless.false-profit.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/galaxy_ngc_pic23941.jpg>Galaxy Conduit is an immersive cosmic portal that transports the participants into the vast recesses of space, evoking wonder at the beauty of the universe and offering
Chaos Web (Justin Perry)
<http://priceless.false-profit.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/ChaosWeb.jpg> This installation, Chaos Web, will enable the viewer/participant to manipulate andinteract with optical feedback in an aesthetically pleasing and natural setting.
How to get here, details and all that:
Parking Passes We require that ALL vehicles coming to Priceless purchase a parking pass, in order to encourage carpooling and discourage extra cars. Parking passes will be $25 per car, $10 per motorcycle.
Parking passes will be available at the gate, CASH ONLY.
Rideshare Board Looking to fill your car or find a ride? Check out <http://priceless.false-profit.com/info/rideshare/>http://priceless.false-profit.com/info/rideshare/ to link up with others.
Biodiesel Buses<http://priceless.false-profit.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/100_37591.jpg> Save some cash and save the planet in 2010 - take mass transit to Priceless. The party starts on the bus!
Get to Priceless the fun, sustainable way! Ride one of the Green Tortoise's buses. Tickets are only $35 and include round-trip transportation to and from Priceless. Choose either the San Francisco or the East Bay pickup location.
Click <http://tickets.false-profit.com/events/98070/Priceless-2010>http://tickets.false-profit.com/events/98070/Priceless-2010 to buy tickets.
The bus will not be used for sleeping at the event and you should bring everything you need to enjoy your stay at Priceless including a tent, a sleeping bag and food.
San Francisco Departure: Friday, July 2nd, 2pm. Transbay Bus Terminal (The corner of First St and Natoma). Please arrive 30 minutes early for check-in. Our bus leaves at 2pm. East Bay Departure: Friday, July 2nd, 3pm. El Cerrito BART (In front of the terminal looking west). Please arrive 30 minutes early for check-in. Our bus leaves at 3pm.
Priceless Departure: Monday, July 5th, Noon. East Bay Projected Return Time: Monday, July 5th, 6pm San Francisco Projected Return Time: Monday, July 5th, 7pm.
*Please buy your bus tickets in advance, no tickets will be sold on the bus. Additionally, you MUST have already purchased a ticket to the Priceless campout. No tickets to Priceless will be sold at the gate.*
Ladies and Gentlemen, and .. gentleladies and rugged sweaty men -
ITS THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN!
Pride is back in the lubed up streets of San Francisco the June 26th to put the spring back in your step and the trannies back in your life. Get your best dress on and your dildo in the air, you'll want to look your best when these guys comes flailing down the street!
Now, lets be clear. PRIDE isn't just about supporting the gay community and being drunk in public. It's about loving life! and yourself! and hopefully a few other people while you're at it.
If you've never been to San Francisco, this is the time to do it. Sure we have amazing music shows... great nightlife, hippies and hipsters but you've never been kissed by a man with boobs the size of his head have you!
In the end, its an amazing party and you'd be a fool to miss it! Drinks and naked chicks all day long, lots of love and lots of crazy.. crazy people. Come join the party!!!! It goes all day, all night, the night before and the morning after. And not to mention the Green Tortoise after party ;')
Our friendly neighborhood of North Beach is having a street fair! This fair is a tamer than your usual out of control san francisco street party, geared more towards the family/wholesome aspects of north beach.
It's all over the area, mainly focused in washington square park and around green street. Come and enjoy Arts & Crafts, Celebrity Pizza Toss,great food, beverages... and Live
Entertainment
featuring Salsa, Pop Rock, Swing, Opera, Blues and
Classical
music!
Free admission all day!
The fair is open 10am-6pm, free for all =)
This is a great activity and hostel guests out there! Sure to be steaming with all that culture you crave so much. Also, being that its only a minute's walk from the hostel wins points for convenience.
Now for some tantalizing pictures so you know what you're coming for! ::
