Your place to share stories on and off the bus.
Look at it, sittin’ there being all pretty and stuff. That’s streetcar No. 1058, painted to honor Chicago for those who care to know.
The artwork is by Ellen, who says that she’s engaging in “100 days of drawing.” More more more!
You’re in for a treat this Saturday, as SF’s own Mesquite and Mustard joins the lineup at Muni Diaries Live to sing about, in their own words, “trains and whiskey.” We’re on board. See what I did there?
On the following weekend, the trio will be providing musical accompaniment for Market Street Railway’s first-ever Night Train, a chartered party on wheels aboard one of the historic streetcars that MSR acquires, restores, and maintains. From the press release:
Come ride Muni’s first streetcar, car 1, along the historic F-line from the Castro to Fisherman’s Wharf and back all lit up. While riding, you’ll be able to enjoy drinks that will be available (your first is free) as well as the sounds of a live performance by the local band Mesquite and Mustard. The excursion is on Sunday, April 26, 7-9pm.
Car 1 had its inaugural run out Geary Street on December 28, 1912, piloted by then Mayor James Rolph, Jr. It ran for 39 years until 1951 when it was retired from service. In 1962, it was restored to its original condition to serve as the centerpiece of Muni’s 50th anniversary. Car 1 was used during the summer trolley festivals during the 1980s and became part of the new F-Market line fleet in 1995. In 2009-2010, it was completely restored and returned to regular service on October 6, 2012, almost a century after it was originally built.
Seating is limited to 42 passengers, so sign up today.
For more information on what promises to be a thrilling and very San Francisco evening, go to Market Street Railway.
Sure, there’s a lot of weird shit you see on Muni every day. But in a separate class all by themselves are the one-offs, the things you might experience only once, but things that will leave you scratching your head and saying (out loud or to yourself), “Only on Muni, man.” Indeed.
This week’s Things on Muni comes to you from the wonderful, creative, sexy minds and fingertips of Muni riders @JQiii, @_PatriciaVaras, @MikeAloha, @Ereeeek, and @scenechangeGO. Be cool like them and follow Muni Diaries on Twitter right now. Go on, we’ll wait here.
Join us at Muni Diaries Live on Saturday, April 18, for a night of true, hilarious, weird, and sweet stories that can only happen on Muni! Grab a ticket and we’ll see you there!
Photo by David Lytle
Here’s the transit news we’ve collected since our last news roundup. If you have news tips, email them our way, por favor.
The Muni Haiku Battle is set to resume its ferocity eight days from now, as syllable-slinger Ronn Vigh squares off against first-time contestant Katie (who also happens to be one-third of the musical group Mesquite and Mustard, but more about that later.) Katie sent us her boat tram tattoo after seeing some other Muni tattoos we posted a few weeks ago. This has to count for something, right?
A week from tomorrow, you can watch Katie and her skin art take on Ronn for what promises to be the most exciting, nail-biting, side-splitting hilarious moments you’ll live to witness (until the next time). Did you get advance tickets to Muni Diaries Live on April 18 yet? Advanced tickets are sold out, but we’ve saved some spots for a few door tickets. Get there early!
This dapper fellow is none other than Norton I, Emperor of the United States, original champion of “a bridge crossing and a tunnel to be built under San Francisco Bay.”
Actually, the dude in the photo leads Emperor Norton’s Fantastic San Francisco Time Machine, a walking tour of our fair city. We love that modern-day Norty takes Muni. We have to imagine that the OE would’ve taken public transit also.
h/t Muni rider Sharon Steuer: “Only in #SanFrancisco: Riding the #Muni bus with #EmperorNorton on his iPhone.”