Executive Summary:
Park(ing) day is an annual event created by the art group REBAR in which dozens of autonomous actors rent metered parking spaces and turn them into parks or other recreational areas. A group of 13 SF0 players put together a formal dinner in a parking space at Duboce Ave and Church Street in San Francisco.

Bex:
That morning I'm choosing our Park(ing) spot, on the phone with Lowteck, (who has been previously heard to have utter, in an unrelated context, the question "Should I bring one of my megaphones?"), when I discover that there is no metered parking on Church and Duboce! Alas! But never fear.
"I don't know how to explain this," he says "but I have a parking meter in my garage." Godblesshim. Later a man tried to put money in it when he parked behind us.

It was a great day.
An excuse to simultaneously:
1.) wear all my grandmother's costume jewelry at one time,
2.) hob-nob with like-minded absurdists,
3.) tip a (top) hat to the Suicide Club Golden Gate Bridge Dining flash mob and to the Rebar/Park(ing) Day folks,
4.) Spread the good word about SFØ, and,
5.) get served fine cheese and chocolate by a butler (thanks Loki!). Really impossible to pass up.
And I gotta say, biking in a prom dress almost rivals bare naked afternoon city riding...



Making it onto the Park(ing) Day tour map gave us openly curious rounds of gawkers to whom we could prosyltize SFØ!
People who didn't know about Park(ing) Day also stopped to eat and ask questions, or just to take pictures and mutter with disgust "only in San Francisco, man. Jesus!"
And maybe it's true (UKØ, MPLSØ, LAØ, keep showin' 'em!) God bless the city that supports both a thing like Park(ing) Day and a thing like SFØ.



Park(ing) Day apparently started with people occupying Mayor Newsome's parking space as a "playful stunt." And if that wasn't enticing enough to the SFØist's sensibilities, there are sentences like this being tossed around:

"It turns out, at least in San Francisco, by putting a coin in the parking meter, you are leasing that space for any legal purpose."

Rebar (organizer of the event) states that the purpose of Park(ing) Day is to "challenge people to rethink the way streets are used, call attention to the need for urban parks, and improve the quality of urban human habitat....at least until the meter runs out!" as well as to "think about how we can re-engage in public space and forge new opportunities to gather and relax in urban settings".



We as SFØ artists, adventurists, and absurdists are up to challenge people to rethink the way anything is used, but especially the streets of our city. I'm happy to know we were amongst the likes of a bondage "muscle plaza" and a chicken run!

Thanks to everybody who made it happen.

Especially YellowBear and his mama for delivery and use of her fine china, silver, crystal, napkins, flowers, and other fineries!
And thanks lowteck for the tables, chairs and parking meter! Sean's raviolini and homemade sauce were delicious. Scarlett's baking skills remain unsurpassed with her orange glazed scones. Eddy the Merciless 'borrowed' us tons of fancy equipment, the Vixen provided delicious tiramisu and lovely flowers. iwsfutcmd/Ben/(FJ'EJF (F J'EJF's caviar increased the fancy factor signifcantly. And my pupu platter would have been nothing without Zemaluco/EO1/.'J (F J'EJ's cheese, fig and bread additions. Thanks to iwsfutcmd/Ben/(FJ'EJF (F J'EJF's lovely companion for rose spritzers. I can't remember how everyone contributed, but it was a great team effort! Thanks all!

Car's Eye View
The Vixen:

It was a glorious day to sport a cane. And smoke a pipe. In fact, pipe smoking seemed to be a running theme amongst the gentlemen in attendance. And myself of course. But let's not forget the graceful puffs of Scarlett and Schalakai on their glamorous cigarette holders. It was all very posh. And who knew that this normally raucous group of hooligans could clean up so well? I especially liked the rotating bow tie and tiara, the mismatched china, the classical music playing across the sidewalk and of course, our lovely butler, Loki (who in my opinion was the highlight of the event). I commend my fellow dinner party goers for their excellent display of the greatest street-glam in the city. A job well dined!

Scarlett:

I have never felt so strongly that I am of the wrong era. I want every day to involve a pretty dress and a formal luncheon. Is that wrong? Is it wrong to yearn to be surrounded by elegance and glamour (whilst being waited on)? Oh, what a truly lovely day. The sun shone, the ambient music soothed and uplifted, the meter meted. Thanks to everyone who skipped out on their Real Jobs for the occassion!


Loki:

For over a year I've been mulling over the idea of joining in park(ing) day. Soon after discovering SF0 and before I had met anyone here, I saw this task and decided it would be fun to try my hand at collaborating. A few weeks ago, life became even busier than usual and I gave up on the idea, sending around an apology to my original collaborators (Lank, Anna One, and The Actor.) Then, to my astonishment, an army of talented players came forward with two day's notice and not only put together a park, but created something more complete and polished than anything I had originally imagined.

The table spread was gorgeous, the table itself perfect for the occasion, and the food both tasty and photogenic. Add fabulous costumes (am I the only player who doesn't have a beautiful anachronistic tobacco delivery system in his closet?), carefully selected music, and our own parking meter (!), and the result was total, unreserved awesomeness.

I learned several things: this game is crawling with good cooks and people with fabulous taste. Bex is an organizational genius. YellowBear is a master of props. And, Lowteck really, really, really doesn't fuck around. Instead of balling us out for scheduling an event right on top of his already planned bus stop rave, he brought all the furniture and supplied his own parking meter.

I also learned that it's a lot of fun to walk around with a serving tray offering hors d'oeuvres to passers by. To my surprise, nearly everyone chose the least interesting item on the tray: plain water crackers. They'd pick up the knife and use it to move the hunk of lovely blue cheese out of the way in order to get to a plain cracker. I don't get it. I'm going to have to try doing this again, perhaps in an even less appropriate context.

Gouvernor of Oakland:

Fortunately the Bart trains for which my people pay exorbitant taxes carried me swiftly to the city of San Francisco for this fine luncheon and social gathering. I haven't had caviar that smooth since my trip last month to visit Beijing. Unfortunately since I carried my formal wear along with me to change, somewhere in the train my pants were stolen. I LOST MY PANTS! Too bad, since I prepared well for this event, even becoming clean-shaven.

Luckily we swirled our vino and the Vixen passed some tobacco for us all and it was a perfect afternoon in the sun. Thanks to everyone who contributed a hand or a prop.

p.s. That pesto sauce was titillating. Also the tiramisu goes without saying.

YellowBear:

I would like to thank Mozart for bringing classy sounds into the air. We enjoyed the Requiem and Act I of The Marriage of Figaro during our lovely meal. Sean also brought along a delightful Clara Rockmore cd that really bumped the bizarre factor up to a new level. I wish I could have found a monocle! I really like to tip my hat at people who have no idea what is going on. Special thanks to my mother for the tablecloths and classy silver stuff for the table! If I had the money I would hire Loki on full time. If you can swing it, try to get your hands on some of Scarlett's scones. Delicious!!