Dead = The Dead

ONGOING 9/2-12/31

Everyone's got a ghost story, so here's mine: I was working at a bakery and noticed that I kept seeing people out of the corner of my eye, but when I turned to look, no one was there. Finally I asked a co-worker if the place was haunted. "Why?" she said, "do you keep seeing people out of the corner of your eye?" Yup.

At the "Haunted Haight Walking Tour," you can hoof it around hearing ghost stories collected by tour guide Tommy Netzband over the past 12 years -- from locals; from libraries; even, the Web site hints, from cops. Spooky! If you ask me, the Haight-Ashbury is pretty frightening sans phantoms; the profusion of seemingly intentional down-and-outers, people who take fashion way too seriously, and yucky tourists always freaks me out. But the tour sounds fancy and well-researched, complete with goody bags, flashlights, and guidebooks. Plus, the walk offers a welcome new perspective on an overexposed neighborhood. It begins at 7 p.m. Friday through Monday at Planetweavers, 1573 Haight (at Clayton), S.F. Admission is $20 and reservations are required; call 863-1416 or visit www.hauntedhaight.com.
-- Hiya Swanhuyser

Race Day
Test out Taylor Street

SUN 9/4

For those of you who can't resist sporting smug "One Less Car" stickers on your cycles, yellow "Livestrong" bracelets on your wrists, or pairs of ultratight bike shorts on your asses, indulge yourself in a Sunday tailor-made for bicyclers. Either cheer from the sidelines as the pros hit the San Francisco Grand Prix (sponsored by SF Weekly; see the official guide after Page 52), racing a 108-mile course laid out across the northern part of city, or, better yet, grab your own bike and taste a five-mile sampling of the grueling route before the competition at the Great San Francisco Bike Ride.

The public ride starts at 8 a.m. at Embarcadero and Washington, S.F. Registration is $20-25; visit www.sfbike.org. The Grand Prix starts at 10 a.m. at the same spot. Spectating is free; visit www.sanfrangrandprix.com.
-- Brock Keeling