Blog

Short blog posts, journal entries, and random thoughts. Topics include a mix of personal and the world at large. 

Castles in the sky

Hey fellow San Franciscans: are you seeing the light beam in the sky at night? Apparently that's an art installation for the APEC summit happening this week. Originating from the Ferry Building are 12 laser beams shooting down southbound Market Street. The fact this beam can be seen by me all the way on the literal opposite end of the city is kind cool. Though it's supposed to the colors of the rainbow? I can only see a beam of blue on this side.

The folks living along Market Street must hate the thing, right? A week-long light beam shining up your pricey luxury condo at night. I wonder if it's worse than the time Elon Musk put a giant illuminated 'X' logo on top of what was the twitter building.

But hey, anything for APEC, am I right? Who cares if restaurants and smalls businesses in the vicinity of the summit are struggling this week (tongue fully in cheek). I mean, did organizers think the opposite would happen? No one is voluntarily going downtown this week! The street closures, no-go zones, and transit detours signal one thing: stay away. I feel most terrible for Chinatown merchants. My own mother - who goes to Chinatown weekly - is avoiding the historic district for the duration of APEC.

Foreign travelers picking this week of all weeks to visit San Francisco also drew the short stick. At least the streets are clean and free of homeless encampments! SFPD is fully working overtime as well, so maybe your rental car won't get broken into? Condolences to the Czech TV crew who got robbed in front of City Lights Bookstore.

It'll be back to normal next week. Enjoy the light beam in the sky while it lasts.

Light the beam!