Trick or Treat?
Apparently San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom, seen here trying on his new Halloween costume, didn't get the memo from his own office that the City of San Francisco had canceled all public Halloween celebrations in the city including the traditional Halloween in the Castro party.  As announced Wednesday by San Francisco City officials there will be "no official Halloween celebration anywhere in San Francisco in October" (including at the downtown AT&T parking lot - which was rumored as a possible alternative party spot to the Castro) due to violence at previous Halloweens in the Castro - notably last year when a shooting incident left nine people injured.  Therefore the normally celebratory Mayor Newsom, who just over the past few days  named August "Barry Bonds Month" and named  Wednesday "Virgin America Day" (as in the Richard Branson airline), could easily have named October "SF Halloween-Hater Month"

While I do not wish to see anyone hurt anywhere at anytime, I think that this move by the city of SF is BULLSHIT and it reminds me of when you are a kid in school and some clown in the class would do something wrong and instead of punishing the perpetrator the teacher would, unfairly, punish the entire class. And just like in those school days, when the teacher's actions merely frustrated and aggravated the law-abiding majority , so too will this action by the city officials of SF merely frustrate the average Bay Area resident who wants to enjoy a San Francisco tradition - Halloween in the Castro.  It is not unlike the move several years ago by the leaders of the city  across the Bay who voted to shut down Oakland's famed traditional Festival at the Lake (Lake Merritt) due to many young black males  "cruising" in their cars and incidents of violence in the surrounding neighborhoods (not even at the Lake).  And did the Oakland police action curb violence in the East Bay city? Not at all! 

When San Francisco's legendary movie palace the  Castro Theatre - which this weekend is celebrating its 85th year anniversary - first opened back in June of 1922 the price for a   loaf of bread was 5 cents, a newspaper cost 2 cents, and a man's haircut or alternately the cost of admission to the Castro movie theater was 25 cents.  And tomorrow morning at 11AM (Saturday 8/11)  the price of admission will be rolled back to 1922 prices when the historic theater charges only a quarter  for admission to a screening of Laurel and Hardy's "Way Out West" (see clip below) plus some classic cartoons.  This is great opportunity to see the classic comedy duo in their 1937 film on the big screen.  But it is also a great opportunity to absorb the beauty of the historic San Francisco landmark, famous for its Wurlitzer pipe organ, with the amazing interior and the Spanish Colonial Baroque facade that  was designed by Timothy L Pflueger - who also designed Oakland's Paramount Theater.

All weekend great events/movies are planned for the Castro Theatre's 85th year anniversary celebration - although not for 25cents but still, at $6 to $9 for most weekend screenings, still a lot less than going to your local multiplex.  These include Clark Gable in San Francisco followed by live music by the Barbary Coast Jazz Ensemble plus a screening of the \Maltese Falcon (Saturday night starting at 7PM).  And on Sunday night at 7PM Warren Lubich will play the famous Wurlitzer as accompaniement to a screenig of Phantom of the Opera., plus a screening of Laurel and Hardy's "Big Business"