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Photo Journal

Close family few out to Japan to join us in our Yuino celebration. What's a Yuino? In essence, it's an engagement ceremony. It is a very old Japanese tradition and its origin goes back to Muromachi era. The western style formal white wedding is very much the norm in modern Japan, but Yuino is still cherished as one of the more sophisticated Japanese traditional customs and is still performed by the wealthy and higher classes of Japanese. (01/01/2007)
85 Photos
It's been a while since anyone I know, well, anyone I know over 26 years old that's had a party. There's no better way to kick off the return of the local economy than drinking away your memory of that big check you just wrote to the IRS. "No need to do a blow out party. I think we're all past that anyway, honestly. Cocktail parties are the new raves!" - C. Eveland. (4/15/2005)
24 Photos
Steven Bengis: 30 Years - A Retrospective. Steven Bengis is the focus of an underground art discussion and dinner at Woodward's Garden, followed by an exhibition at Linc Art, San Francisco. Steven's closest friends are expected to visit the show to assess if the maverick does indeed deserve more than his 15 minutes of fame. (11/06/04)
42 Photos
The third year in a row of complete costumed mahem - Bay to Breakers 2004. This year's theme was Lucha Libre. "Lucha Libre" is what professional wrestling is called in Mexico. It originates from olympic wrestling and was brought to Mexico by Americans. Known for wearing interesting masks, the tradition comes from an American wrestler named "Ciclon McKey". He was not very popular and so he asked the man who made his boots to make him a mask. The man made him a white leather mask, which was horrible and too small for him, but Ciclon started to use it anyway. The leather started to expand and it fitted perfectly on McKey's face. Then a lot of Mexican wrestlers started using masks as well. These masks are sacred in Mexico, and pulling off someones mask during a match causes an instant disqualification. (5/18/2004)
22 Photos
We're on double-secret probation, whatever that is. We can't afford to have a toga party. You guys're up for a toga party? Toga! Toga! I think they love the idea, hood. Come on, Otter, please don't do this. Got news for you, pal. They're gonna nail us, no matter what we do. So we might as well have a good time. Toga! Toga! Toga! It's not gonna be an orgy. It's a toga party. Perfect weather for the 2003 Bay To Breakers. (05/21/2003)
14 Photos
The 19th Annual Folsom Street Fair is California's third largest outdoor festival. (The Rose Bowl and San Francisco's Freedom Day Parade are the first and second.) This 'only in San Francisco' event brings out to the street what people normally keep in their bedrooms -- certainly an excellent time for people watching.
20 Photos
Valentines, the holiday of romance, has roots in an ancient Roman festival known as the Lupercalia. Celebrated on Feb. 15th, the Lupercalia was a fertility rite in honor of the gods Lupercus, Faunus (associated with Pan) and the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. The celebration of Lupercalia transformed and spread as the Roman Empire grew. During the celebrations of Lupercalia, Rome conquered France, and it is then that the first Valentine-like cards may have been exchanged. From its association with Lupercalia, and that day's connection to fertility, comes St. Valentine's association with love and romance. So, in the spirit of St. Valentine, we presented a modern interpretion of Lupercalia - a Pajama Party!
18 Photos
The zambomba is amongst the most authentic manifestations of the celebration of Christmas. Apparently in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, zambombas were organized from the XVIII century on. These were simply gatherings of friends, neighbors, and relatives who met each year on Christmas eve in the patios and corrals of communal dwelling-places and farm labourers' quarters. Huddled round a campfire they would form a chorus and sing and dance villancicos, in a purely spontaneous manner and for an indefinite time, while the wine, anisette, and punch flowed freely and Christmas sweets were passed out. The basic instrument is the zambomba, hence the name of the celebration. In commemoration of our new home atop Buena Vista Heights in San Francisco, we present a modern interpretation of the zambomba, a holiday cocktail party, complete with Flamenco guitarist and dancers.
19 Photos
