LOS EVENTS: bicis de pueblo, in the excelsior. saturday 12/19th 12-4pm

More info here: podersf.org/event

.@meligrosa @PODERSF @sfyellowbike plz RT! They're at SF Community School, 125 Excelsior Ave https://t.co/9vJtZjCCki pic.twitter.com/BEE8F3B1AA

— Save SF Bike (@saveSFbike) November 20, 2015

“How I learned to bike to work in Los Angeles” by Ali Swenson | LATimes

nice article. have ridden the metro to/from dwtn-all over as a tourist, have yet to pedal elay ×

» “…To make a change in this city — a change in traffic, a change in emissions waste, a change in lifestyle — we’ll need a little hand-holding. And that’s OK.” - “How I learned to bike to work in Los Angeles” by Ali Swenson | LATimes

"How I learned to bike to work in Los Angeles" https://t.co/LJluQNBmNy

— Armand Emamdjomeh (@emamd) December 10, 2015

increíble: this is crazy: man on bike delivery service delivers baby, in the middle of the day – san francisco…

Just wanted to share this incredible story my good friend KT shared [of velovogue and her new project velo visionaries] × more people like Esau in this world:

SFGATE: 'Blood was everywhere': Uber bike deliveryman saves newborn baby

[unsure if the fb embedded feature below works↓ not very savvy in those regards]

this is crazy: +people like Esau “My wife delivered two children. I saw doctors deliver them. My instincts kicked in…”...
Posted by Bikes and The City on Monday, November 30, 2015

I use ifttt for social media channels as I'm not as active on fb as much, but i love and perhaps understood twitter better, maybe bc I'm a news/arts articles junkie. is ok to not be good or active on everything, right ;^]

Anyway, how what a tremendous story. Have to read it to believe it, right?!
Have a great rest of the weekend.
MELI

draw, listen, read, in no particular order.

wanted to take a second to share something just simple and easy in so much wrong, sad, unstable around the planet we live in.

i have certainly had a rather strong year of a somewhat affinity, to attend multiple local book talks as well as making an effort to get tickets ahead of time aka not-the-day-of for music shows that interest enough to get me away from home and the pj's, the warriors or other basketball features.
so far, it has worked quite well.

i've found tremendous joy and peace observing in attendance, and even running into a few recurring faces with these book events, and music shows, or running into familiar book store clerks.
i have to start gettting better at finding more (more!) time to read all those books that are starting to pile up, on basically any flat surface around the house. not a bad problem, i suppose.

here are three sketches i wanted to share with you all.
two from recent rock-author-bio lectures, and a music show.

O C T O B E R  ×

Elvis Costello presented his book Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink in the city, arts, lecture series here in san francisco. the Nourse theatre fairly recently reopened (to me, 2012) after 30+ years or so. the lecture was incredibly pleasant. the venue is classic though many components new and rennovated, absolutely beautiful.
he sang close to a handful of songs at the end. an absolute treat.
the night concluded with an improvised quick friend dinner date afterwards at a nearby greek restaurant in hayes valley, very nice.

N O V E M B E R  ×

Patti Smith presented her book M Train. It was so great and sincere.
We had an all-gals nite out, and it seems that we were not the only group to plan that.
A very high ratio of women:men, in the beautiful angelico hall – an old school wooden building in the dominican university in san rafael. it was just beaming. Patti ended the night singing a few songs as well, and it was super.

D E C E M B E R  ×

the Dandy Warhols played twice this week at the great american music hall, i attended the wednesday night show.
it was a nice, fun time out. they are very light and easy and the audio was good. i wore mi old bjm shirt and caught only the end of joel gion's band, which i have now seen several times. two beers were had.

a note: it was really cool of them to share mi little drawing on their social media thing one and thing two.

// drawings that are on draft and WIP in mi mind are: recent performances by café tacuba (oakland show), ride (santa cruz) y bomba estéreo (san francisco show) … and few more lingering in the visual hardrives inside mi head etc.

thanks for stopping by.
× MELI.

bike lanes in orange county: ”Youth movement nets $2 million for bike lanes in Santa Ana” via the @ocregister

this is so great: santa ana, california is close to mi < 3
the OC is not what one often/mostly sees on tv, a community full of great people y large latin@ population ×

Youth movement nets $2 million for bike lanes in Santa Ana https://t.co/bLlXA7Vfr5

— O.C. Register (@ocregister) November 8, 2015

coffee morning observations × no.3

morning news and his coffee time
had mine to go, took a second look
he left, he had enough
the city is full of crime



---
take a second and observe to seek a real connection,
recognizing not all of us are an extension of a push notification.
– coffee morning observations × no.3

coffee morning observations × no.2

swimming in ruled paper,
a page that sits in time,
scribbling everything down,
to the rhythm of his caffeinated vapor.



---
take a second and observe to seek a real connection,
recognizing not all of us are an extension of a push notification.
– coffee morning observations × no.2

coffee morning observations × no.1

i said hello with a nod
she replied with a smile
went back to her newspaper
i went back to the grind




---
take a second and observe to seek a real connection,
recognizing not all of us are an extension of a push notification.
– coffee morning observations × no.1

LOS EVENTS: Farley's Bike Parade and Costume contest in Oakland.

Cool event y costume contest, tomorrow sunday in oakland by farley's coffee:

›› Greeting Bay Area Farley's Community!It's time again for our annual Bike Parade and Costume contest!Sunday, Oct 25th we will be meeting outside Farley's East at 33 Grand Ave in Oakland at 11:00am.

At one point not so long ago, I knew how to embed FB posts, i'm a bit outdated+inactive regarding the FB world, but here is the link with additional details: facebook.com/events/144068319277365/

×M.

LOS EVENTS: Marie Elqui: Radical Politics and Outlaw Passions by @MHelquistWriter (SF Nov 4th)

Good morning.
Just wanted to give a congratulatory shut out to local author, activist, friend Michael Helquist's recent book launch ×

Marie Elqui: Radical Politics and Outlaw Passions (Sept. 2015) Oregon State University Press which describes: Marie Equi is a finely written, rigorously researched account of a woman of consequence, who one fellow-activist considered “the most interesting woman that ever lived in this state, certainly the most fascinating, colorful, and flamboyant.” This much-anticipated biography will engage anyone interested in Pacific Northwest history, women’s studies, the history of lesbian and gay rights, and the personal demands of political activism. It is the inspiring story of a singular woman who was not afraid to take risks, who refused to compromise her principles in the face of enormous opposition and adversity, and who paid a steep personal price for living by her convictions.

If you are in SF or the Portland area please go see his author talks, Michael is a superb writer and a fantastic speaker, I found myself quickly surrounded in all of Marie Elqui's stories, and if you are a history buff, you will love the facts throughout it all.

Michael and I met via the bloggie-internets and it was so great to collaborate on two fun series a handful of years ago. Back in 2009/2010, he had already begun research for the book as I recall hearing about it fairly frequently during our coffee get togethers. A big thank you for letting me know via email about his upcoming author presentation/talks.

Below is a quick foto of Michael during the Q+A at his presentation in early October at the San Francisco main library.

As much as I am a library mouse, I had yet to be in the beautiful LGBT Hormel center. Just beautiful, I highly recommend it. Failed to write down the info of the rollerderby photos currently showing, my bad. They were super cool.

Next SF presentation is:
GLBT Historical Society Museum -- Nov. 4, 7pm, 4127 18th Street @Castro, San Francisco, Free and open to the public.
Check out the upcoming Oct+Nov dates (SF, Berkeley, Portland) here ➵ michaelhelquist.com

--
I bought the book earlier this month, and cannot wait to begin. 2015 has already been a great year for books, author talks and great story connections.

Up next in the near future for me are: Elvis Costello, Patti Smith, Carrie Brownstein, and (hopefully) Isabel Allende : )
Good stuff.

--
and again, congrats Michael!

twenty six.

a deep perspective instrumental to continue,
through untamed oceans
serene tides
wisdom,
life itself.

lots of time alongside,
loved ones.
some days are good,
some very sad and angry,
some days are not understood.
time allows
understanding,
sometimes.

find inner peace
nurture optimism,
stand in the sun
be ok in the dark,
stand again
and try,
forever.


--
nano, mi brother, would be twenty six this week.
extremely lucky to have shared beautiful moments with this amazing person, for twenty one years.
so full of life, nano.

× m.

found.

i found her.
on the winding road to the golden gate.
dreaming of a faraway place.

sunday walk, october 4th 2015.

bay area bmxers

¡this is awesome! :) so cool ×
fb page: bayareabmxers | bayareabmxers.org/

linea.

linea caffe is located on 18th street between mission st and san carlos, in the mission district.

the common search online will tell you they are known for their waffles, but i prefer to go into a place, order some coffee not to-go, absorb and observe. not everything is dictated by a google search, you know.


the time was saturday afternoon, and there were no lines and no hassle.
illy flat espresso spoons were a nice little touch. less is more kinda design channel frequency.

exploring a new coffee place (for me, though linea opened in 2013?) in the belly hurricane of scaffolding and changes is not my favorite weekend activity but once in awhile is needed to sit there and watch life moving at speedlight as you blink.
espresso was delicious.

i took this picture almost exactly 7 years ago, september 27th, 2008.

the picture above of the red cup, i'm standing inside of this window.
hope to take a before and after picture from its same angle on my next visit.

ps. their website is cute, i think (pretty sure) the illustrator behind this is the awesome wendy macnaughton.

no sponsored content. just sincere words y fotos ×
M.

fotodiary: four black/whites, y etc.

yesterday i learned about bikelink while la calitexican checked on her bike/hourly time to be OK, at the 5th/mission parking lot.

had great lunch time out w/adrienne, úna and ctx.
we also briefly discussed how the bikelink lockers work, if it would be possible to seamlessly work with the clipper card in the future and my first encounter of a station with many scoots. i have seen the scooters around town, but wasn't sure how/where they work.
didn't take pictures of the bike lockers, but if you are curious and out of the loop like me, you can read more here: SFMTA bike lockers.




we met saturday afternoon downtown for a bite and then walked to the embarcadero center to watch amy (amy winehouse). it seemed that all four of us had not been to the embarcadero center for movies in quite sometime -years- and it has some lush upgrade with leather-reclinable lazy boys style seatings for 16$, well and alcohol sales along with your movie. i don't see myself doing that repeatedly, but when in company of good friends and some of my favorite humans is worth the day out downtown.

here are some color pictures:

× i really liked this moment. and its light.


× bart was closed and few intersections were closed due to the central muni line ongoing construction.


× a traffic-less fourth street. so strange.


× you'll get this door if you've watched hbo silicon valley show. i dunno if it's real or a parody. silly.


× obviously.



× sf-themed stamps in the moleskine store, a complete temptation to just get every. thing. in there =]
you can freely stamp away, which is a really cool thing. most stores should have stamps!


× a simon norris sf heart
---

• ✎ • ✍ • ➪ •

recently i have received several emails and notes from good friends, total strangers and other cyber pals and for that, continuing to share this blog – it is very touching and nice.
i am glad this outlet has connected me with many on so many levels, and that with the growing platforms i sincerely enjoy posting things here. and several of them met via here or flickr, i can call friends, these gals i hung out on saturday, KT and many more. i am very lucky in that regard.

this blog has bikes in the title, however even when heavily bike-focused between its beginning (2008-2010) it has been an extension and outlet for my local/travel happenings captured with words and/or photos, people, and other observations of mine.

i have not ridden a bike in several years since the loss of my brother.
emotional scarring and learning to live peacefully with grief, i do not worry about and if, or when, the day comes to ride a bicycle consistently again. or if it will ever happen.
being mostly a pedestrian and seeing the city from a different perspective rather than the bike lane has been something i had not fully considered when i was younger. i can sincerely say it has been great.

i am very fortunate to be within reach of my familia, spent every chance with my mom. and also good friends that i can lean when the time comes for questions, recent updates to the city's bike infrastructure and often get out and have a good laugh, an outing to cultural events and a good time.

kind of a long post for the long weekend.
anyway.


---
the eye, never ceases to see.
for the few of you that still read this blog, thank you × m.

drink coffee read good books × borges, cafe st jorge.

× cafe st jorge, mission street near cortland, august 2nd 2015.

coffee y fotos, cafe st jorge.
jorge luis borges, y books.

“It’s possible that a book won’t attract any attention when it’s published; it may be discovered afterward. On the other hand, in the case of a film (and this makes everything more dramatic; the same thing happens, let’s say, with the dancer’s or performer’s art), the failure or success has to be immediate... I think the circumstance of a hall filled with people in itself creates a special atmosphere.”

– seen via brainpicker.

× mágico.

snail mail alert: postcard project in VA, see details below to participate ×

Received this from Julie, sounds like a cool project:

Hello, 

I am Julie Pennini form Big Planet, Small World...lover of bikes, travel and city living. I am hosting an International exhibition in my city of Richmond, USA during The Road World Cycling Championships. I was hoping you might share the simple concept of connecting cultures with your fans. Here are more details and some promo. 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1447549705570888/

---
× M.

cubs pitcher jake arrieta loves bikes

chicago cubs pitcher arrieta and his bike ride rituals, include going for a 10-20 mile ride often times.
just heard the announcers on espn talk about this and he sounds like –and after looking at his twitter– looks like he is an outdoorsy enthusiast, taking his folding bike with him everywhere. very cool!

found a few of his tweets [in case the twitter embedded doesn't show on your monitor/device - here is one with his xtracycle and another]

Prime off day. Racked 25 miles with my comrade on the Xtracycle pic.twitter.com/BhyzdnPu21

— Jake Arrieta (@JArrieta34) July 24, 2015

Started my @xtracycle build today thanks to @GreenMachCycles The kids are going to go nuts! pic.twitter.com/tMrHoqomd4

— Jake Arrieta (@JArrieta34) July 8, 2015

any cubs fans out there? i only know one cubs fan, one of mi fave dudes currently out in the sunshine state.

for further short-reading, here is an article from redeyechicago: Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta never leaves home without his … bike.

lazy sunday afternoon watching sunday nite béisbol. the oakalnd a's finally win in exta innings and interleague game in arizona. now, watching briefly a national league game, chicago cubs at los angeles dodgers game as it is nice to see live jessica mendoza -- The first woman to call a Major League Baseball game for ESPN in action, she is great :)

anyway, have a great rest of your sunday.
× M.

más art, less ads.

nice to spot more art and less arts throughout the city.
this is at a muni stop in downtown san francisco, market street.
:)


× read more about local ongoing projects and call to artists, via SFbeautiful here: sfbeautiful.org/muni-art and the SFAC here: sfartscommission.org

M.

russian river, august 2015.

on saturday we spent some time up north in the russian river.
had the basic needs, a few tubs of sun screens, and most importantly good friends.

one of the girlfriends had two sexagenarians join us in the afternoon.

the topics and the giggles, continue to grow as tresses of hair go from black or blonde to white.
the water cool.
a friendly duck.
algae, light.
the sun bright.
the trees, observant.
the rain that never comes.
the fog frequently visits.



M.

making a scene: somarts through august 20th.

in mid-July, a few good friends and i attended the opening of the MAKING A SCENE: 50 YEARS OF ALTERNATIVE BAY AREA SPACES at somarts.

plenty to revisit, learn, political, present, past. thought-provoking.
the live performances and mingling local artists, and the like during the opening crowd, was cool.
here are some fotos and a little video.
SOMARTS is an art space close to my heart and art soul, one of my favorite spaces, glad it exists and continues to be.










× MAKING A SCENE: 50 YEARS OF ALTERNATIVE BAY AREA SPACES at somarts you can read about it here↓ however if you are in the vicinity, you can still catch it for free through this thursday, august. 20th.
× más info here: somarts.org/makingascene.

hola, august.

“
April is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dried tubers.
Summer surprised us, coming over the Starnbergersee
With a shower of rain; we stopped in the colonnade,
And went on in sunlight, into the Hofgarten,
And drank coffee, and talked for an hour. 

”
…
TS Elliot Wasteland

× Foto by me in San Francisco, not Germany. 

Friday night: swing and a miss

A fine Friday evening at the ballpark with the girlfriends, and one of their husbands :)
--


I finally got the nerve to ask my favorite sax player for a photo, he is a staple and a gem to hear at the Oakland/Coliseum Bart station (which also connects to the OAK airport).
Mi cell phone is not the ideal to take face images with that magic hour glare, but I'm thinking of making a drawing of him and giving it to him. I think he'd like it.

Have a great weekend ×

M.