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Oct.
2002 : October
brings out the best in San Francisco: Niners Sundays, public art,
homage to Cable Cars, Blue Angels soaring across crisp, fog-free
skies. It opens with fine weather and goes out with a bang: San
Francisco’s top holiday, Halloween:
• Artists citywide throw open their doors during San Francisco
Open Studios. Guests get unique insights into the creative workspaces
and processes of the city’s artists, who’ll have ample
wares for sale. More than 700 artists of multiple mediums: glass,
sculpture, furniture, painting, mixed media, and photography. Citywide,
10/5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 26-27; 415-861-9838, www.sfopenstudios.com
• Who’s the Ding Dong Daddy? Clangers vie for the crown
at the Cable Car Bell Ringing Championship, a time-honored
tradition held in Union Square. Contestants (MUNI drivers) are judged
on rhythm, technique, originality, and style; crowd approval should
factor in. Union Square, noon 10/17; 415-474-1887, www.sfmuni.com/
• After a year’s absence, Fleet Week returns to
the Bay Area as America’s boys and girls in white swoop into
town in full whoop. The Navy’s elite Blue Angels buzz the city
from Thursday, Oct. 10, and the Parade of Ships is Oct. 12. Grab
a hilltop spot for the Air Show, Oct 12-13. Embarcadero and citywide,
10/10-13; 415-487-6453, ship tours 510-263-1821, www.fleetweek.us
• The San Francisco Jazz Festival delivers a world-class
lineup, befitting this great jazz town. Legends and local faves
play 11 venues around the city over 18 days, kicking off 10/23 with
the Rebirth Brass Band and “New Orleans in SF.” Father
of free jazz Ornette Coleman leads his trio at Davies Symphony Hall;
King of Western Swing Merle Haggard salutes Bob Wills at Masonic
Auditorium. Citywide, 10/23-11/10; 800-850-7353, www.sfjazz.org
• World beat bounces among the eucalyptus trees during Reggae
in the Park, as Toots and the Maytalls, Junior Reid, the Itals
and others get Golden Gate Park feeling Irie. Sharon Meadow, Golden
Gate Park, 10/5-6; 415-458-1988, www.eventswestca.com
• Proud North Beach residents and all lovers of Italy welcome
the ageless Italian Heritage Parade, now in its 134th year.
The largest Columbus Day parade in the West features floats, a Ferrari
show, and ample food and drink specials. Parade route Fisherman’s
Wharf to North Beach, 10/13; 415-434-1492, www.sfcolumbusday.org
• San Francisco’s movie palace, the Castro Theatre, struts
its avant-garde stuff with a three-week retrospective of Japanese
master Akira Kirosawa, capped by a week’s run of his
magnum opus, the Seven Samurai. 429 Castro St, 10/11-31; 415-621-6120,
www.thecastrotheatre.com
• Hard to picture today, but this urban cosmopolis has a deep
pioneer past. Get in touch with San Francisco’s Western roots
at the Grand National Rodeo, where top circuit cowboys and
cowgirls vie in championship qualifiers. Arabian horses, horse jumping,
sheep dogs, antique tractors. Cow Palace, 10/25-11/3; 415-404-4100,
www.grandnationalrodeo.com
• There’s a whole other sort of roundup going on at the
legendary Exotic Erotic Ball. San Francisco’s wild side
comes out in full regalia in this celebration of all things deliciously
decadent and bawdy. MC Nina Hartley and special guest Anna Nicole
Smith. Cow Palace, 10/19; 888-EXOTIC-6, www.exoticeroticball.com
• And of course, Halloween, in the Castro District and
across town. 10/31
•
Sept 2002
–
Jay Cooke is a San Francisco-based travel, food, and culture writer.
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