Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

My experience at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, the annual folk rock music festival in Golden Gate Park, was unexciting to say the least. I arrived fifteen minutes early to the start of it on the second day, a sunny, peaceful weekend segment. I watched as families laid with their children and friends and stayed put while listening to the music. There was no head bashing, raving, mosh-pitting, or even airs of irritation as people trampled in a too crowded field. All of these components were present my previous years of visiting. It was evenly spaced and somewhat quiet besides the faint sounds of bluesy folk music wafting through the air. I bought many three overpriced lemonades and several other food items even though I wasn't hungry just to try and make the transition of approaching a stranger a little easier since we'd be standing in a line together anyways. It worked, but only with the woman serving me food, which is why I continued buying lemonade...it was good anyways. I approached a couple workers to get quotes as well and they were very willing to give me some answers, which I appreciated. I feel as though I could have delved more into the interviewing part and will certainly try and improve upon stepping out of my comfort zone more. I think my story will be more geared towards the event as a family attraction and the general appreciation the public has for the festival as a family friendly, peaceful event.

Muni Experience: A Surprising Glimpse into City Life

My Muni experience was pleasantly calm, an unexpected contrast to what I first expected it to be. I'm so used to boarding popular lines such as the 5 or the 38, both of which run through areas I'm widely familiar with. Inner Richmond and Downtown are predictably unpredictable, with loads of locals, students, visitors, and to be frank, homeless patrons that board freely because those lines drop you in popular, centralized areas. The 12 Folsom, starting at the beginning of Russian Hill all the way to the Mission seemed like a line strictly for individuals and families going to very specific locations, most likely their favorite places to shop or their homes. Notably, there were only Asian individuals that boarded the bus line, with the exception of maybe three men of Latino descent that came on for only a couple of stops. I thought this was significant and in line with the outside districts the line ran through. After riding through Russian Hill, we moved through a district that had shops, markets, and storefronts in which the signs were only in an Asian language I couldn't decipher. It was as if we went through a culturally divided area, highly intense, continued into the outskirts of the city that really didn't have a tone or mood at all, then back through an intensely historical, cultural district when we reached the Mission District. Overall, I thought the ride was so different than most Muni rides, with it not being crowded, loud, or paired with a strange odor that usually finds its way onto the bus. It was calm and comfortable throughout.