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Our sources tell us that Halloween in the Castro as we knew it is now dead. Long live a dull and tedious San Francisco.
Although supervisors promised us that Halloween in the Castro would return for 2008, it turns out that it will not make a spooktacular comeback; in fact, it won't return at all. The event is no more. Dead. It seems that the Entertainment Commission -- whose job, it seems, is to prevent entertainment from happening within the 7x7-mile radius of San Francisco -- has come up with the brilliant idea that the bombastic and very San Francisco holiday, Halloween in the Castro, will be finished.
So, will the Castro be on lock down every Halloween? We're dying to find out. And we're disgusted. How about you?
To recap, last year Halloween in the Castro was canceled, which saw all of the neighborhood's bars and clubs close down as the predominately queer neighborhood tunned into a police state for the night. (To re-live the non-drama, visit SFist's live-blogging coverage of Halloween 2007 here.)
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halloween in the castro sucked for the last 10 years anyway, so who cares? I don't need to hang out with thousands of of too-drunk out-of-town amateurs intent on stabbing or shooting everything in sight.
I don't get it... the city PROMISED to have the 2008 event, but now they are backing off? What a bunch of pussies. They made a promise to the citizens, and now they just give the heave-ho "f.u.!"
Just a few days ago, Supervisor Dufty stated that Halloween in the Castro was going to be on for 2008 and that the 2007 shutdown was just a one time deal.
Instead of 2007's Halloween at Home, the theme this year is Halloween Everywhere - that means that you can go to the Castro of course, but also SOMA or Polk Gulch (or Polk Village or NOMA or whatever).
Businesses won't be forced to close for the night in 2008 anyway.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Some idiot always manages to spoil Halloween in the Castro.
Get a life!
This year its on a friday...
This will be interesting.
I don't really think businesses want to close down for 2008. When only a couple of bars were open for the event (and the rest were closed), those places got tons of business with long lines out the door.
Also... "Halloween at Home..." ha! One of the cheeziest campaigns with taxpayer money. The posters looks like a kindergardener did it with construction paper, and the commercials had unknown people and was only shown on KRON (one of worst stations in town).
The only conclusion I can derive from this development is that it's an admission that the SFPD (and Entertainment Commission by extension) is not competent to pull it off. It's a failure to preserve the character of the city, full stop.
This is my surprised face.
I love how in SF whenever we have a challenge, the City just gives up and says "Gawrsh it's just too hard so we're gonna quit." Crime? MUNI? Halloween? Just quit and give up. Let's change the motto to "The City That Knows How To Give Up!"
Good. Halloween in the Castro was the epitome of lame. All the bridge and tunnel can stay home, stuff their fat faces as usual.
Yeah, because the bridge 'n tunnelers are so discriminating as to prefer not to visit the city at all without the Castro Halloween. I'm sure all the trolleybus companies are shaking in their boots.
As a resident of the Castro for 37 years, I am thrilled. It used to be a great fun community event. In the past 10 years it has turned into a dangerous, violent, gang-fest.
Thank you SFist. You made my day.
If you'd like to spend time with people who live in SF and appear to be adults, try the Dia de los Muertos parade that kicks off near 24th x folsom.
SF hasn't been the City That Knows How for, oh, I dunno, maybe the 37 years that bernsteinbears has lived in the Castro.
This news doesn't surprise me. Also, I'm kind of glad it's been canceled for good.
The toll hikes on the bridge were supposed to be temporary, too. Silly believing people. ;)
Goodbye Castro, hello Polk Street.
We'll be having our own party at home. If anyone pulls out a gun and starts firing, it gets to be me.