My Yachting Experience

I'm sure you all know by now I have been working on this story about the America's Cup coming to SF and South Beach next year. Yesterday after class I went and met with my buddy Leon who is a part of the South Beach Yacht Club. He took me out on his boat and I got to meet his wife and daughter. It was a great experience. Leon joked that his boat certainly wasn't the nicest but having never been on one so big I was pretty stoked. I learned a lot about the functioning of the boat (named "Rosely" after his sister) and about the rules of the race from Leon (even his daughter could work her way around the boat). They took me under the Bay Bridge near Alcatraz. The view of the city from the water was really beautiful and we sailed back into the bay just at dusk.

It was great day to go out, and I was really appreciative. I just wanted to take this opportunity to point out what amazing people we can meet with this whole journalism thing. I'm thankful to have met this warm and inviting family.

My Experience at KPIX News Studio

I parked my car on Broadway, put $2.00 worth of quarters in the meter and headed to 855 Battery Street in Downtown. I opened the door and walked up to the security desk and said, "I'm here to see Craig Franklin of CBS News." The security person at the desk said, "Your name is?" I replied with my name. She dialed Mr. Franklin's extension and said "Mr. Franklin, Leigh Walker is here to see you."

I took a seat in the lobby, waiting anxiously for Mr. Franklin to come down the elevator. After a 10 minute wait, Craig Franklin, senior television producer and cameraman of CBSsf News officially introduced himself to me and we proceeded up to the newsroom floor and began the tour of the news station.
----
Prior to this meeting, Professor Jim Toland (here at SFSU) nominated me for a mentorship with a producer at CBS News. I e-mailed Craig Franklin and discussed a time when we could meet. We picked today at noon. Due to not wanting to be late, I left my house at 10:30 this morning and got to the news station 5 minutes after 11. I was early... What else is new?
----
The tour consisted of learning how meteorologists deal make sure the weather is accurate and how the process of showing it on the green-screen works. I was introduced to the website team, including the main blogger for the site. Mr. Franklin then introduced me to the production team and how the production of a newscast actually works. There is so much detail that goes into a 30 minute newscast. Everything is scripted and planned down to a tee.
----
At a little before noon, Mr. Franklin walked me up a flight of stairs and into the newsroom. It was bigger than I thought! It looks so much smaller on TV. I was even able to sit in the anchor's chair! The teleprompters and cameras move automatically and there are two teams of productions. In the backroom, there are a team of four people running the newscast and communicating with the two production assistants running the teleprompters out in the newsroom.
---
Overall, it was an interesting experience and I can't wait to go back and continue this mentorship through the summer and fall.

How Weird May Day

San Francisco residents congregated in the streets of SoMa to launch the city's street festival season with the 12th annual How Weird Street Faire.  Thousands of people took advantage of the warm weather Sunday exploring the "mythical realms" on Howard Street, dressed up in wacky outfits, dancing in the closed off streets, and simply enjoying the community's presence.  Nine stages with DJs spinning different styles of electronic music filled nine blocks, and the event really lived up to its name; the festival just kept on getting weirder and weirder.

The eclectic crowd didn't fail to amaze (or confuse).  There were capoeira dancers/fighters, numerous fairies, men and women wearing tutus, a pink devil, a queen with her entourage, and possibly everything else imaginable.  This year also featured an Art Alley showcasing local artists and live art, a May Pole ceremony and dance "calling forth the world of our dreams," and even an official flying saucer landing zone for intergalactic guests attending to participate in "universal peace."  (I don't know if any showed up.)

I first heard of the event through a friend and wasn't planning on attending because of an immense school load, but was convinced after seeing numerous wacky people heading to the festival.  Although I stayed only for a while, until I fulfilled my journalistic duty, the brief moment I was there really reinforced my appreciation for this city.  The civic participation is very impressive, especially in celebrations.  What, perhaps, is the best is that it is a free, all-ages event.  Yes, they ask for a $10 donation, which in turn gets you a Magic Sticker that is good for discounts with the many vendors.  You do see families, couples, and singles, and the party continues for those 21 and over at the nearby nightclubs after the street fair ends at 8pm.  It is ironic, though, that a city that takes pride in it's progressiveness and activism decides to celebrate International Workers' Day in such a manner.  How weird.

The Eagle's wake

Friday night a buddy of mine invited me to what he said was the last night of The Eagle Tavern as we know it. Apparently the iconic gay bar in SoMa is closing after 30 years because the landlord has other plans for the location. Many articles and blogs have been written about the abrupt closure (even city supervisors have shown concern) and all are begging the same question: what's going to happen next?

Well, Friday night no one knew the answer, but a few gathered to say a final goodbye. It very much felt like a wake, even the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were there. Memories were written on the floor in chalk, one of them read, "I am going to miss waking up in the trough." I am unsure whether this meant an actual trough in the in bar, or the trough-like urinals in the restrooms; either one would make sense. Some talked sadly about the closure, others, like my buddy, just tried to get as much fun of the last night.

It is sad this bar is closing since it was more than a just a bar. It was a community gathering spot, where anyone was accepted whether they were gay, straight, male, female, into leather or not, and, yes, even the queens from the Castro. On Thursdays the bar would host live acts for its Thursday Night Live. Sundays was Beer Bust, where people would congregate for unlimited beer for $10 and proceeds would go to charity and organizations. It really is a pity that it's closing, but it is evidence of the changing forces and demographics of SoMA.

Appreciate the things and time we have, people, especially in a diverse and constantly changing city like San Francisco. The few times I have been here I had a real great time. I wish I would have spent more time here. I know that's how a lot of people feel at a wake, but hopefully this is not the last we hear about The Eagle. SFist, who first reported the closure, is now reporting that the bar might not close until later. We'll see how this will all turn out.

THIS JUST IN...

.... OSAMA BIN LADEN IS DEAD!

Vanguard Poems

In one of my older post I mentioned I had gone to the Vanguard's magazine launch party, well I was going through my file cabinet and I found a booklet of some of Vanguard's oldest pieces. Some of them are extremely graphic, but still thought provoking and I think you guys might enjoy them.

The following poem was written by transvestite prostitute from the 1960s:

"The Hustler"

I sell my love for dollars,
If you can spare the time,
A Hug is but a nickle
A kiss is but a dime.

I'll go to bed for twenty,
All night for just ten more.
Now don't get the idea
That I am just a whore.

For if I didn't sell my love,
Where else would it go?
I have no one to give it to;
No one who'd care to know.

So open up your wallet
and show me what you've got,
And whether I should love you
A little or a lot.

If you guys want me to post a couple more, let me know?

An interesting experience in Japantown

So, today I decided to run around San Francisco today, mainly because it was gorgeous, and decided to get a head start on my final feature story for this class. I have decided to take on the article about what people, organizations and stores are doing to continuously provide relief aid to those victims of the Japan tsunami and earthquake.

I was disappointed that in the center of Japantown no organization was out asking for donations or anything like that. It was only when I walked into stores or right before I was seated at Oksaya Koji restaurant that I saw my first sign of aid.

"Half of all proceeds made on Mon-Fri will go to tsunami relief." - Posted at Beni Hanna

"All proceeds of purchasing this wristband will go to tsunami and earthquake relief in Japna" - in front of Oksaya Koji.

Truly interesting. I'm determined to find out how and when those proceeds actually get to Japan.