A tricycle built for three
You’ll need to plan carefully to hit two big events this Saturday, both of which capture the spirit of the Bay Area by blending social change agendas with tons of fun.
At Jack London Square in Oakland, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., its the second annual Pedalfest, a celebration of cycling co-produced with the non-profit East Bay Bicycle Coalition, leading local advocates for green transportation. In addition to lots of cycling education and community-building, the festival features all-day entertainment including BMX stunt riders, tightrope biking, and The Whiskey Drome, a circular, wooden-sided arena—reminiscent of a whiskey barrel—where professional riders will build up speed and ride the walls, nearly parallel to the ground. There’ll be demos of bike-powered electricity generation and ice cream churning, tune-up tips for civilian bikers, and displays of exotic and antique bikes from collectors throughout the Bay Area.
Takin’ it to the streets…
On the San Francisco side of the Bay Bridge, the fourth annual San Francisco Street Food Festival, takes over 10 blocks of the Mission from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. More than 80 vendors of mostly ethnic edibles—from Yucatecan tacos to Polish perogies—will serve crowds that hit 80,000 last year. Beyond all the deliciousness, the Fest has a serious social intent. It’s hosted by La Cocina, the Mission-based non-profit community kitchen that provides cooking space and entrepreneurial advice for immigrants starting food-based businesses. La Cocina also engages with city government, advocating for fair licensing of food trucks, carts, and other small-scale culinary operations.
Check out the Street Food Fest’s uplifting and educational video after the jump
