Pushpins by Lank
August 3rd, 2008 10:47 AMWhile completing this task, I left post-it notes along the way whenever I was inspired to do so, thereby marking my route and leaving little bits of crazy for people to find. There were a total of 14 notes.
It was a little difficult to come up with good reasons for leaving notes for people, but a little creativity goes a long way. Here's the map of where the notes were left (click on the image for the Google Maps version):

Note #1:
Sadly, I forgot to take a picture of this one. It was the first "Jim" note, and I left it on a window next to the front door of a bar on Mason St. It read:
"Jim -
Call Rita ASAP. She's been trying to reach you since yesterday. Where are you?
It's URGENT!
-Lank"
Note #2:
I passed the front of A.C.T., probably the most prestigious theatre company in town. I saw that Roger Rees has a one-man show playing there right now.

Since he directed me in a play in San Diego years ago (and he's super nice), I thought I'd leave a note for him on one of the doors to the theater. This time only, I left my real name.

(I didn't make it to the show, sadly. I wasn't feeling well that night.)
Note #3:
Then I passed this nifty-looking restaurant, which begged for a note.


"Dave -
Sorry I missed you. I had to leave at 1pm for another engagement later today.
I must've got our time wrong.
Call me!
-Lank"
Note #4:
This building was a little further down Geary.

It turned out to be abandoned, but I left a note on the front door anyway. The door was so filthy that the note fell off within seconds. In this shot, you can just see the note in mid-fall at the bottom right corner of the photo:

So I slipped the note under the door instead. It read:
"Dear CRDC -
I am an experienced animal fluffer. If you are ever in need of my services (like for a film), please call.
- Lank
[phone number of well-known other player at bottom]"
Note #5:
I left a note at a bus stop shelter.

"To the Line 27 driver who works Friday nights around 9pm -
YOU'RE HOT!
I was afraid to ask for your number last night, but here's my web address:
www.sfØ.org/Lank
...waiting..."
Note #6:
I passed a hostel.

And left a note outside the front door, this time for Rita:

"Rita -
I left messages for Jim at all of his hang-outs. I told him to call you and that it's urgent.
Where are you, by the way? Please call me when you get this.
- Lank"
Note #7:
Then, a second hostel.

This time, I went for really weird and creepy:

"WALTER -
ANSWER YOUR PHONE. SHE WAS DELIVERED TODAY - I PICKED HER UP. SHE'S ALIVE. SHE'S FINE. SHE'S A LITTLE BANGED UP, BUT SHE'S OKAY. CALL ME.
- LANK"
Note #8:
I needed to get away from the rather dark tone of my previous notes, so when I saw this building with cool dark green bricks that stuck out 4-5 inches from the wall, I left a folded note.

When you lift it up:

I left my SFØ address on there somewhere, too.
Note #9:
A little further down Washington, this was painted on the sidewalk:

Since that's part of one of my favorite tongue-twisters used for actor-y vocal warm-ups, I left a note on the nearby door.

It's not really a tongue-twister, but it's poetical and good for warm-ups.

Later a walked by a snazzy-looking restaurant on Hyde St. and left a note.

"Denise -
I thought they were open for lunch, sorry!
I'm at the Hyde St. Seafood House across the street, #1509.
Can't wait to meet you!
- Lank"

Further down Hyde, there was an architects' office with big windows.

On the outside, the note read "www.sfØ.org".

On the inside over somebody's desk,
"BUILDINGS AREN'T GOING TO DESIGN THEMSELVES. GET BACK TO WORK!"
Note #12:
Suddenly and unexpectedly, I found myself at the top of the the pretty, windy part of Lombard Street. This was a primo spot for a note, but I couldn't think of anything clever. The it hit me - OF COURSE!


"DOWN WITH HILLS
Put an end to vertical stratification.
Bring down the decadent hills of San Francisco.
Level the playing field.
www.sfØ.org/Lank"
Note #13 (almost done):
There was a building under construction on North Point, opposite Ghirardelli Square. It was open, and no one was around, so I figured maybe Jim worked there.


"Jim -
Please call Rita ASAP. She's been trying to reach you.
It's URGENT!
-Lank"
Note #14:
Coincidentally, as I neared the end of my day's journey, guess what?

ANOTHER HOSTEL. So I wrote one last note:

"Ronaldo -
Meet me at the ampitheatre down by the water at 4pm.
I've got something incredible for you and it rhymes with bookers.
- Lank"

What can I say? I was tired.
At any rate, I hope a few people found my notes and had a laugh this weekend. Maybe some will check out SFØ. Plus now I know where all the hostels are. Cheers!
33 vote(s)
- rongo rongo
- susy derkins
- lefthandedsnail
- GYØ Ben
- Tøm
- Loki
- Scarlett
- GYØ Vicki
- Peter Garnett
- zer0gee
- Burn Unit
- Dax Tran-Caffee
- Jellybean of Thark
- Darkaardvark
- Waldo Cheerio
- Ben Yamiin
- Icarus
- Dela Dejavoo
- JJason Recognition
- Super Mean
- Bex.
- teh Lolbrarian
- bunny dragon
- Absurdum
- Julian Muffinbot
- The Artful Dodger
- Flitworth
- Myrna Minx
- Kid A
- Spidere
- Not Here No More
- Augustus deCorbeau
- Secret Agent
Favorite of:
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(none yet)15 comment(s)
I've slept in that last Hostel.
That last hostel.
Ghosts in my bed.
The goats I bled.
That last hostel.
Wait - I am an experienced animal fluffer!
But not THAT way. Eww.
I would vote for the 'buildings aren't going to design themselves...' note, but I'm disheartened by your serious lack of appreciation of all that hills bring into your life. No votes for you, UP WITH HILLS!
hear hear! (i think the Down goons are provoking us again)
Goons? Typical elitist Uplican attitude.
That's another example of why we need to bring the hills down.
Elevation = Segregation
I'm so heartened to see someone fighting the good fight against vertical stratification!
Plus you made me laugh.
I think buildings should be given the opportunity to design themselves. It is just paternalistic to think that some person has to do it for them.
Have you *been* to New York city?
Down With Buildings!
Quite entertaining. I especially like the note for Walter.