An update on Peter Hartlaub’s 77X-Candlestick Express story

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Back in 2014, journalist Peter Hartlaub took the stage at Muni Diaries Live to talk about the now-defunct 77X-Candlestick Express, a.k.a., the Muni Booze Cruise. That story is featured in this week’s podcast, and for that reason, we reached out to Peter to see if he had any “episode extras” he could send us. Boy, were we (and now, you!) in for a treat.

Here’s what Peter sent us:

Hello, Muni Diaries friends,

An update since my Muni Diaries tribute to the 77X Candlestick Express:

After the Muni Diary, I ended up going to the last game at Candlestick Park with my dad Phil Hartlaub, sister Toni Kam and aunt Susan Leal. I thought that would be my closure, but I was assigned to cover the last big event at the ‘Stick, Paul McCartney’s concert. I had seats on the field, but snuck up to Upper Box Section 32, and convinced an usher to let me sit in my family seats one more time – even though they were roped off. I listened to “Live and Let Die” and “Hey Jude,” then left.

Our Candlestick seats sit in my parents’ backyard. I’ve already retained a lawyer for the legal fight for them that will ensue between me and my sister when my parents are gone.

I haven’t traveled on a Muni Van Ness line since.

Wow. I love everything about this!!! (I’m willing to overlook the football parts.)

Thanks, Peter!

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Muni Fiction: An Adventure on the 48-Quintara

18 quintara muni by sfmuni

Lately, I’ve been inspired by today’s young people. One example: After all the gloom of last Friday, I went to see a high school play all about protest. It was incredibly uplifting to see these kids getting passionate and active about whatever cause inspires them.

Later that day, we got a submission from Stella, a self-proclaimed 8th grader. “Hi. I have commuted to James Lick Middle School on the 48 for 3 years. This is a short story I wrote about a fictional middle schooler riding the bus.” The theme of awesome youngsters continues for me.

Here is Stella’s story. More of this, please!

“48” (PDF)

Dead body found on Muni

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2017 is shaping up to be a killer sequel to 2016 … literally.

ABC 7 reports that the body of a woman found dead on a Muni bus in Daly City likely died of meningitis.

Laura Kimberly Robson, 53, of San Francisco died last Tuesday and while medical officials wait for test results, they’ve told her family the likely cause of death was meningitis.

Robson’s family says they were told a bus driver found her sitting upright in a rear seat at the end of a line in Daly City.

They do not know how long she had been on the bus or when she passed away, but Muni immediately called Daly City police.

Read the rest of the story on ABC 7.

Scary stuff. Stay safe out there!

Photo by Paul Sullivan

New Muni Art by local artists unveiled on 100 buses

Muni Art Press Conference | January 11, 2017

A hundred Muni buses are being turned into mobile galleries for five local artists, voted by the public, in a project called Muni Art. You might remember this project last year, and this year SFMTA, Supervisor London Breed, and nonprofit SF Beautiful brought the project for another year.

This year’s winners:

  • “Teens of SF” by Monica Tiulescu (606 votes)
  • “Bit by Bit” by Lillian Shanahan (446 votes)
  • “Las Historias” by Luis Pinto (443 votes)
  • “City Walks” by Counterpoint Studio (Peter Tonningsen and Lisa Levine) (443 votes)
  • “Sight Seeing” by Todd Kurnat (443 votes)

Last year there were 50 buses displaying the winning artists’ work, and this year the project has doubled the number of buses. Here are this year’s winning artists:

Muni_Art_2017_monica

Teens of SF by Monica Tiulescu

Muni_Art_2017_lillian

Bit by Bit by Lillian Shanahan

Las Historias by Luis Pinto

Las Historias by Luis Pinto

City Walks by Counterpoint Studio (Peter Tonningsen and Lisa Levine)

City Walks by Counterpoint Studio (Peter Tonningsen and Lisa Levine)

Sight Seeing by Todd Kurnat

Sight Seeing by Todd Kurnat

Here’s a look at last year’s Muni Art winners. Have you seen the new art on your buses yet?

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