Street Art in "The Mission" in San Francisco

The Street Art was one of my favourite things in San Francisco.  I liked that alot of the murals had themes of social justice and activism.  Most of these shots were taken in "Clarion Alley" in "The Mission" area of San Francisco.

Street Art "The Mission" in San Francisco from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

California Sea Lions @ Pier 39 in San Francisco

California Sea Lions use Pier 39 in San Francisco to rest.  They frequent the Bay area because there is plenty of food nearby.  The docks are protected from storm waves and predators like Great White Sharks do not come into the Bay.

California Sea Lions @ Pier 39 in San Francisco from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

Yoshi's Jazz Club on Fillmore Street, San Francisco

The famous Fillmore Jazz Festival was happening the same week I was in town.  Susan took me to Yoshi's Jazz Club where you can eat Japanese food and listen to Jazz music.  It is very unique and very stylish inside.  There is a dinner/performance area where you can sit and eat and listen to live music.  There is also a more club-like area and a casual dining area.  I like that the kitchen is right up to the front.

Yoshi's Jazz Club on Fillmore Street, San Francisco from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

4th of July BBQ w/Toisha & Susan

I went with these girls to a 4th of July rooftop patio BBQ.  We met up with some smart, funny, charming, progressive people.  Good eats and drinks - what's not to like?  Oh, we also had a stunning view of the hills.

4th of July BBQ w/Toisha & Susan from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

Introducing Susan and The Hills of San Francisco

Susan is one of my very first and very best friends that I met in New York a few months after I moved there.  She now lives in San Francisco and I am there visiting her.  We didn't have hills like this in New York.  They are exhausting.  I ask her to comment on it.

Introducing Susan and The Hills of San Francisco from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

Erin and Ankur on Alanis

These 2 LOVE Alanis.

Erin and Ankur on Alanis from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

Erin

Erin and Chantal meet for the first time in 10 years.  Chantal is on vacation in San Francisco and Erin is en route to Boise for 4th of July.  They meet one evening for a lonnng catch-up chat over dinner, drinks, and a night drive in San Francisco.

Erin from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

@ Baker Beach in San Francisco

Too cold to swim but we enjoyed the beautiful views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Lots of dogs on the beach playing :)

Baker Beach, San Francisco from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

2 Idiots Reading Public Signs in San Francisco

Ankur and I try to figure out some public signs in San Francisco.

2 Idiots Reading Public Signs in San Francisco from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

@ Alcatraz w/Alex and Ankur

The 2 men and I discuss our tour of the Alcatraz prison.

@ Alcatrez w/the 2 Men from chantalsunita on Vimeo.

Pride 2008: Toronto Again Outed as Major Travel Destination

Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Emma, supporting Pride in NYC, 2007

Toronto - Pride Week (Toronto) celebrates diverse sexual and gender identities, histories, cultures, family, friends, and lives.

Festivities are celebrated all over the world, including cities like New York, Vancouver, Sydney, San Francisco, Montreal, Amsterdam, Paris, Stockholm, London, Scotland, Madrid, and Budapest, just to name a few.

Here in Toronto it is one of the biggest summer events in Canada which generates tourism and pumps revenue into Toronto’s economy. It has an estimated attendance of over one million people. It is one of the major, if not “the” major summer events in this city. Friday June 20th will mark the beginning of the Pride festivities and it will end on Sunday June 29th with the big parade which will travel down Yonge Street, one of Toronto’s most famous streets. Pridetoronto.com has all the information you will need to know about this 10 day event.  You can also download the “Pride Guide” which will give you a day by day breakdown of each day’s festivities and events.

It is important to celebrate Pride to unite and support one (of many communities) that has historically been marginalized and denied the basic human rights that seem to be automatically awarded to other groups without second thought.  Today Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, a lesbian couple from San Francisco, can legally exchange wedding vows and legally be awarded the same rights as heterosexual couples.  These rights include hospital rights, insurance rights, benefits, equality, recognition, and the privileges that a heterosexual couple would have, even if it is coming 55 years later.  “Lyon and Martin have been a coupe for 55 years and fell in love at a time when lesbians risked being arrested, fired from their jobs and sent to electroshock treatment.” (Associated Press June 16, 2008)  It is largely due to worldwide Pride events and celebrations that this issue and injustice has been brought to light, and finally some equality granted.

The most specific Pride event aims to bring the political to the forefront is the Dyke March which will be happening on Saturday June 28^th at 2pm.  The Dyke march historically has been a women’s/womyn’s led protest march which is more political than the Sunday parade.  It tries to raise awareness for specific groups within the lesbian, bisexual, womyn, and trans community regardless of sexual orientation.

The Sunday Parade is also a lot of fun!  Part corporate, part political, and part community, marching is a ton of fun!  It is even better than sitting at the sidelines watching.  Join a group, dress up in costume, makeup, or uniforms, and dance or walk down the parade route!  There is no better way to see, and be a part of the festivities, than to march in the parade.  Great way to socialize and make new friends and have fun!

There is a three day street festival with over eight stages of live entertainment, an extensive street fair including community booths, vendors, food stalls, and a special Family Pride program taking place at the Church Street Junior Public School (Church and Alexander).  Spice Girl Mel C, Jully Black, Leisha Hailey’s band “Uh Huh Her”, and Thelma Houston (“Don’t leave me this way”) are some of the artists that will be featured on the Pride stages (all performances are free).  There are events for youth such as the Fruit Loopz stage, and family events as well.  Details are in the Pride guide which you can download on the site or which will be available this week on the streets of Toronto.  There are bar events, club events, films, theatre performances, and comedy performances.  Funny gal Sandra Bernhard will be performing at Massey Hall on Sunday June 22, 2008 at 8pm.  For a complete breakdown go to www.pridetoronto.com and you can download a full Pride guide.  Have fun, and, Happy Pride!