San FranCelia

I love San Francisco this time of year.  Because we generally only get two months out of the year that are shining with sun, many of the festivals, events, and outdoor city activities take place during this time – September and October, specifically (the latter being the best month of the year as far as I’m concerned… ah, Indian Summer… love it!).  I’ve been organizing an apartment search lately in my attempt to get my own digs (which I did!!), and it’s been taking up a lot of my time.  However, I have to fill everyone in on some of the great things the city has been offering lately.  And, since many of these activities are on a yearly basis, it’s great to learn about what is going on each year, so you can map out a game plan for when the next year comes around.  Many weekends during these early fall months are packed with more than one event that, I believe every person should go to at least once.  This past weekend was no exception, and on the docket was Love Parade (or LovEvolution for 2009 – I like Love Parade better), and boy oh boy does this event mean fun.

Love Parade, for those of you who aren’t familiar, originated in Europe as a way to bring people together through song and dance and celebrate the simple (yet never simple) emotion of love.  In San Francisco, this is no different.  This isn’t really an event for the conservative crowd (as many San Francisco activities aren’t), but if you have an open mind and are ready for a peaceful day of dance outside, you will love it – no pun intended.  The parade starts on Market Street, and like the Pride Parade, lends itself to hosting a plethora of nude, interesting, and colorful people.  If you ever wanted to buy a brownie from a hippie on the corner, this would be the time.  The parade, which is made up of various floats that are all playing different types of house and trans music, ends at San Francisco’s Civic Center, where every person that is along the route and following the parade (there are no barriers people – the more the merrier) ends up.  The floats encircle the city hall and proceed to host hours of dancing delight, where everyone spends their time showing others kindness while dancing in the streets.  A payment of about $10 is needed to pay city fees, but other than that…free.  You will see every type of person at this event, from the bridge and tunnel crowd who come to the City to view something so wildly different than the suburb can offer, to the people who want to shock and awe peaceably.  While some things will make you double take, it’s such a wild and fun time, it only adds to the charm.  If you really want to get into it, dress up.  You will just end up blending in, to be honest.

These types of events bring the spirit to the City to the people as far as I’m concerned.  Everyone being able to get together and celebrate love is something that San Franciscans have been striving to continue since the 1960s, and while we may not always get there (hello Muni fight!), these types of happenings remind and inspire us to live, laugh, and most importantly, love.

Peace and love Xo

Tweet This Post Delicious Digg This Post Reddit

One of the biggest long time trends, and one of the greatest reasons to live in San Francisco, is the constant health kick the entire city seems to be on.  When I first moved here, I of course had thought about my health and even worked-out on occasion (*cough*cough* “worked out” in this case is a little subjective, I’ll admit), but I was never into it.  I didn’t think about the things that I put into my body and the beverages I consumed.  I have always been active, but in my opinion, that’s just not enough to live what San Franciscans love to call, a “healthy lifestyle”.  Upon my move, I realized that this notion, and subsequent action by the city’s residents, was something that was pervasive around the city as a whole.  If you’ve ever been up at 6am on a Saturday morning (you poor thing), you’ll see marathons in Golden Gate Park, bicyclists in large groups heading out to Sausalito for a Marin Headlands jaunt, and joggers galore.  From corner stores to restaurants, foods are catered for people trying to eat less fat, consume more nutrients, and of course, because we are all food snobs here, want something that leaves us craving better and better taste and texture.  I love it!  But, with the healthy eating that’s so easy to come by, and since we don’t all like to rise at the crack of dawn (crack of noon in some people’s cases… *cough* cough*) we must find a way to be responsible for our own well being, especially in a  a physical sense.  If you are human you need to move.  We are animals after all.  That’s why, when I had a chance to check out the upscale Sports Club LA affiliated with the Four Seasons on Market Street, I jumped (yes literally – it’s good exercise, don’t you know) at the chance.  While the pricey monthly dues (about $160/month for the full time membership) and steep initiation fee (around $1000) can leave some reeling – myself included – if you can afford it, this place is the way to go.  They have everything; from a salt water pool to a steam room, a private Pilates studio and basketball court.  Classes are offered all

day and there are tons to choose from at any given time; two floors of space, in fact.  The gym has so much equipment that you will never have to wait for a treadmill again.  With floor to ceiling window views of Market Street, it makes for a magnificent sight.  It’s clean, has a nice and helpful staff, and is a gorgeous facility to boot.  And to top it off, as posh as it is, it’s still not as intimidating or sterile as you would think, as many high end places can tend to feel, which I loved.  I didn’t feel like all the women were perfectly in shape and wearing make-up and the men could compete in Mr. Olympia with a good chance of making top 5 (some were, of course, but I suppose that’s to be expected at any Downtown gym).  Can’t stand when you feel too chubby to join a gym…  what’s the point after all?

While there are many options when selecting a gym membership, this fitness mega-plex is definitely one to be considered.  While pricey, the benefits definitely outweigh the cost if you frequent enough.  If you want to have a taste of the luxe facility, ask them about a free week pass.  You may even find you can’t live without it.  If not, hey… free week!  That’s what I call a healthy lifestyle.

Peace and love Xo

Tweet This Post Delicious Digg This Post Reddit