Most Popular

Recent Articles

Recent Articles by Toph One

National Features >

  • Houston Press

    The Passion of Victoria Osteen

    A flight attendant's smackdown with the wife of mega-preacher Joel Osteen inspires a whole new set of commandments.

    By Rich Connelly

  • City Pages

    Your Field Guide to the RNC

    Today Denver, tomorrow the Twin Cities.

    By Matt Snyders and Bradley Campbell

  • The Pitch

    Star Power

    A country musician rescues Waylon Jennings' tour bus from the scrap heap.

    By C.J. Janovy

  • Village Voice

    Serrano's Second Movement

    The provocateur who brought you "Piss Christ" pinches off a new concept.

    By Lynn Yaeger

Parade Grounds

By Toph One

Published on February 20, 2008

San Franciscans turn ordinary events into grand spectacles. Every May, up to 100,000 costumed (and possibly drunk) runners race across town, and each month hundreds of bicyclists take over the city streets — and then there's the annual convergence of belligerent Santas who descend on downtown at Christmastime. So when the largest Chinese New Year Parade outside of China starts today, consider donning your finest Sam Spade trench coat and fedora and taking to the streets in search of old-time San Francisco lore, hidden alleys, and city secrets. For 18 years the Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt has sent intrepid teams of amateur private dicks out into North Beach, Chinatown, and Telegraph Hill for a four-hour hunt for clues and locations drawn from the city's storied past. Teamwork and maps are a must, but the fun of hoofing it around town, searching for some obscure storefront from the Barbary Coast days as the dragon dances down Kearny and millions of firecrackers pop, makes this a worthy adventure for some 1,600 participants. Did we mention cake and champagne for the winning teams from each of three skill levels? And, of course, you win a year's worth of bragging rights.
Sat., Feb. 23, 4:30 p.m., 2008



SF Weekly Insiders

  • Local food, music and news blasts
  • Free Stuff
Backpage.com