space pandas on divisadero

Welcome committee

Despite the adages about only boring people being bored, there is just a lot more to be excited about when moving from a place where old people go to relax to a place where young people go to have fun. Put another way, when my parents reacted to the move as though I had changed my religion or my sexual orientation, I knew I must be onto something good.

Commuting to the outer-outer Bay Area leaves only a sliver of time each day for settling in, so I was looking forward to this weekend as the real introduction to the neighborhood. Nothing within view or walking distance could escape my enthusiasm, including the Alamo Square Flea Market, an annual celebration of knicks, knacks, street jewelry, used books and, seemingly, whatever people dug up from their storage units and apartment dumpsters. The community spirit evidently did not extend to people cleaning up after their dogs, but at least a lot of the dogs seemed to know each other.

And as if browsing through junk at the base of one of the city's prettiest small parks wasn't enough, down the street at Hayes and Buchanan the Neighborhood Baptist Church was having its annual block party. How can you say no to a block party with free food, especially when you are invited to it while on your way to spend $20 on a miniscule breakfast of coffee and pastries? This was an old-school affair, probably much more reflective of the traditional Hayes Valley than the luxury shoe shops and baby boutiques. Balloons and plastic tablecloths, an emcee making "ghetto Christian" jokes, old ladies from the Korean Residents Association clapping along to gospel music and big plates of hot dogs and watermelon. The Rosa Parks Line Dancers got down (slowly and carefully) and the Starlight Quartet sang fabulously. I was hoping they had CDs available, but it seems they are too old to have embraced the concept of recorded music. The raffle prizes included calculators "to promote fiscal responsibility." What kid would get excited about winning a calculator, but the girl who did was carrying it around like a puppy.