Tamales Bay

Ah, spring. When flowers bloom, baby deer take their first wobbly steps, and giant squids sail languidly past mountains of delectable tamales. Every year, the Pacific Inter-Club Yacht Association hosts Opening Day on the Bay. For you regular folks who don’t own boats, Opening Day is a parade that ushers in the boating season. And because this is San Francisco and no occasion can be celebrated without costumes, the boats are decorated in accordance with the chosen theme, “Legends of the Deep.” At least one person is constructing an enormous life-size kraken (that’s a giant squid to you landlubbers) and documenting the process on his blog, which boasts hilarious entries such as “Can I Make Squid Arms Move?” It’s easy to work up an appetite when you’re chasing papier-mâché King Tritons and Loch Ness Monsters while trying to maintain the perfect ascot. Luckily, the parade route sails past the third annual A Taste of Tamales by the Bay. The event features tamale tastings, a margarita-making competition, and tamale-making demonstrations. Examples from the Yucatan to Chile will be represented by some of the most respected tamale makers in Northern California. Arr, mateys, set a course for deliciousness.

The boat parade begins at noon offshore from Crissy Field (Marshall at Mason, in the Presidio), S.F. Visit www.picya.org.
Sun., April 26, noon, 2009