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"content": "\u003cp>The summer of 2016 might feel like a lifetime away — notably hallmarked by a polarizing election year. But that was also when \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/pop/29621/why-everyone-you-know-is-suddenly-obsessed-with-pokemon-go\">Pokémon Go\u003c/a> was first released in the United States, instantly \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/pop/29621/why-everyone-you-know-is-suddenly-obsessed-with-pokemon-go\">taking over our phones and sidewalks\u003c/a> as players ventured out into the real world to compete and catch virtual “pocket monsters.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like most viral crazes, stories of the augmented reality game’s rapid mainstream fandom — and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/futureofyou/207392/the-number-of-accident-reports-related-to-pokemon-go-is-getting-scary\">their mishaps while playing\u003c/a> — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/pop/89816/a-year-later-pokemon-go-has-leveled-out-and-left-fans-wanting-more\">fizzled out\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, a good amount of love for the iconic Japanese franchise has lived on in the Bay Area. Many local fans, like Ashley Tan never quit playing since the game was released — even though she was just around 9 years old at the time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11983005\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11983005\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-02-KQED-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-02-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-02-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-02-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-02-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-02-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-02-KQED.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Children participating in Pokémon Celebration Day at the Richmond Library pick out stickers in San Francisco on April 13, 2024. \u003ccite>(Aryk Copley/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I continue playing now because of the community I’ve made around it,” says Tan, 17, who lives in Dublin. “We catch Pokémon, we do raids, and there are community days where people come out and catch Pokémons.” (Raids are opportunities in the game for players to work together to battle a boss Pokémon, and players that succeed in a raid can win special items and catch unique Pokémon.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You’ll see a lot of people still playing this,” Tan says — an observation that was borne out last weekend as Tan joined hundreds of Bay Area Pokémon fans who ventured out to San Francisco’s public libraries to celebrate the city’s first official \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11981532/san-franciscos-pokemon-spring-celebration-day-is-in-the-works\">Pokémon Celebration Day\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A world of Pokémon\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996 as a game for the Nintendo Game Boy, Pokémon quickly became a global phenomenon spanning video games, animated movies and television shows, trading cards, books and mobile games.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Across these platforms, the aim of the game remains the same: Players or “trainers” search to catch all 1,025 pocket monsters or Pokémon, such as popular characters like Pikachu — a yellow creature known for harnessing electricity — or Squirtle, a turtle-like water creature.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11983011\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11983011 size-medium\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-08-KQED-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-08-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-08-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-08-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-08-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-08-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-08-KQED.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pokémon fans show off their new cards outside the Richmond Library during a Pokémon Celebration Day event in San Francisco on April 13, 2024. \u003ccite>(Aryk Copley/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In 2016, the franchise expanded further with the launch of the mobile-based Pokémon Go in July. Launching four months before the November election of President Donald Trump, the game has become a symbol of a different time for some.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Receiving \u003ca href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/gaming/2016/07/13/report-pokemon-go-downloads-top-15-million/87022202/\">a reported 15 million downloads in the U.S.\u003c/a> in its first week alone, Pokémon Go created headlines around the sheer numbers of people who went outside to play it — and some of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/stateofhealth/237828/distracted-drivers-playing-pokemon-go-create-new-public-safety-threat-california-researchers-say\">dangerous situations that inattentive players contributed to\u003c/a>. The game went so viral that politicians and 2016 presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton tried to use \u003ca href=\"https://time.com/4407067/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-pokemon-go/\">Pokémon Go\u003c/a> as a vehicle to reach voters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the number\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/pop/89816/a-year-later-pokemon-go-has-leveled-out-and-left-fans-wanting-more\"> of active Pokémon Go users sharply dropped\u003c/a> in the following years. \u003ca href=\"https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/07/how-covid-19-transformed-pokemon-go-into-pokemon-stay-at-home/\">The COVID-19 pandemic also placed logistical constraints \u003c/a>on players’ ability to play the game outside their homes — however, some players told KQED that Pokémon Go helped them socialize and get outdoors during school closures and other shelter-in-place measures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the intervening years, the game has developed new visuals and maps to keep fans playing. And play they do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11983010\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11983010\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-07-KQED-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-07-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-07-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-07-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-07-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-07-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-07-KQED.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mitchel Ng (right) plays the mobile game, Pokémon Go, with other children at the Richmond Library during their Pokémon Celebration Day event in San Francisco on April 13, 2024. \u003ccite>(Aryk Copley/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>At a handful of San Francisco Public Library branch locations that day, fans marking \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11981532/san-franciscos-pokemon-spring-celebration-day-is-in-the-works\">Pokémon Celebration Day\u003c/a> could come together to trade cards, pick up free Pokémon books and stickers — and make personalized buttons of their favorite characters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The event started back in 2022, but this year was the first time city leaders recognized it through a resolution marking the day of celebration.[aside label='Related Coverage' tag='libraries']For children’s librarian Andrew Ho, who helped organize the library event on Saturday, Pokémon Go continues to be a source of joy and nostalgia over the decades — and even a healthy dose of escapism.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I was a child when the very first Pokémon came out,” Ho says. “I was playing, collecting cards, doing all that, and it was perfect nostalgia for Sunday morning cartoons. Then it just kinda stuck.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for Pokémon Go, Ho has been playing the mobile game since it was released and says he’s never stopped in the eight years since.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It might be a problem,” Ho says. “Every generation has its own different experience with Pokémon. I think that’s why this game is so popular: You can play it with your kids or your grandkids.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘It’s just fun!’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Organizers of the library event — including city Supervisor Connie Chan and Natalie Gee, the chief of staff for Supervisor Shamann Walton — also worked with the game’s creators to set up a special “PokéStop” at the Richmond Library, where players can refuel on game items like eggs and Poké Balls, which are used to catch Pokémon creatures in the game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Michelle Mai was there with her two young boys, who were stocking up on their favorite items and making friends at the library along the way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11983009\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11983009 size-medium\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-06-KQED-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-06-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-06-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-06-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-06-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-06-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-06-KQED.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Michalis Ng (left), Michelle Mai (center) and Mitchel Ng gather at the Richmond Library for a Pokémon Celebration Day event in San Francisco on April 13, 2024. \u003ccite>(Aryk Copley/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Pokémon Go, Mai says, is “very international — so you can take it with you to different places and stations to catch different types of Pokémon. They really like going to the beach and catching a water-type Pokémon, or we go first, and they can catch a grass-type,” she says of her children’s engagement with the game as a family activity. “We talk a lot about it, and it is always a happy conversation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mai’s son, Mitchel Ng, nodded in agreement while playing the game next to her. Like many in attendance on Pokémon Celebration Day, Pokémon has played a role in a good portion of his life so far.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’ve been playing this for over two years,” says the 8-year-old, pointing to his favorite character, Mewtwo. “It’s just fun!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The summer of 2016 might feel like a lifetime away — notably hallmarked by a polarizing election year. But that was also when \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/pop/29621/why-everyone-you-know-is-suddenly-obsessed-with-pokemon-go\">Pokémon Go\u003c/a> was first released in the United States, instantly \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/pop/29621/why-everyone-you-know-is-suddenly-obsessed-with-pokemon-go\">taking over our phones and sidewalks\u003c/a> as players ventured out into the real world to compete and catch virtual “pocket monsters.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like most viral crazes, stories of the augmented reality game’s rapid mainstream fandom — and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/futureofyou/207392/the-number-of-accident-reports-related-to-pokemon-go-is-getting-scary\">their mishaps while playing\u003c/a> — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/pop/89816/a-year-later-pokemon-go-has-leveled-out-and-left-fans-wanting-more\">fizzled out\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, a good amount of love for the iconic Japanese franchise has lived on in the Bay Area. Many local fans, like Ashley Tan never quit playing since the game was released — even though she was just around 9 years old at the time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11983005\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11983005\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-02-KQED-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-02-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-02-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-02-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-02-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-02-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-02-KQED.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Children participating in Pokémon Celebration Day at the Richmond Library pick out stickers in San Francisco on April 13, 2024. \u003ccite>(Aryk Copley/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I continue playing now because of the community I’ve made around it,” says Tan, 17, who lives in Dublin. “We catch Pokémon, we do raids, and there are community days where people come out and catch Pokémons.” (Raids are opportunities in the game for players to work together to battle a boss Pokémon, and players that succeed in a raid can win special items and catch unique Pokémon.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You’ll see a lot of people still playing this,” Tan says — an observation that was borne out last weekend as Tan joined hundreds of Bay Area Pokémon fans who ventured out to San Francisco’s public libraries to celebrate the city’s first official \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11981532/san-franciscos-pokemon-spring-celebration-day-is-in-the-works\">Pokémon Celebration Day\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A world of Pokémon\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996 as a game for the Nintendo Game Boy, Pokémon quickly became a global phenomenon spanning video games, animated movies and television shows, trading cards, books and mobile games.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Across these platforms, the aim of the game remains the same: Players or “trainers” search to catch all 1,025 pocket monsters or Pokémon, such as popular characters like Pikachu — a yellow creature known for harnessing electricity — or Squirtle, a turtle-like water creature.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11983011\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11983011 size-medium\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-08-KQED-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-08-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-08-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-08-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-08-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-08-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-08-KQED.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pokémon fans show off their new cards outside the Richmond Library during a Pokémon Celebration Day event in San Francisco on April 13, 2024. \u003ccite>(Aryk Copley/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In 2016, the franchise expanded further with the launch of the mobile-based Pokémon Go in July. Launching four months before the November election of President Donald Trump, the game has become a symbol of a different time for some.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Receiving \u003ca href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/gaming/2016/07/13/report-pokemon-go-downloads-top-15-million/87022202/\">a reported 15 million downloads in the U.S.\u003c/a> in its first week alone, Pokémon Go created headlines around the sheer numbers of people who went outside to play it — and some of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/stateofhealth/237828/distracted-drivers-playing-pokemon-go-create-new-public-safety-threat-california-researchers-say\">dangerous situations that inattentive players contributed to\u003c/a>. The game went so viral that politicians and 2016 presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton tried to use \u003ca href=\"https://time.com/4407067/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-pokemon-go/\">Pokémon Go\u003c/a> as a vehicle to reach voters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the number\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/pop/89816/a-year-later-pokemon-go-has-leveled-out-and-left-fans-wanting-more\"> of active Pokémon Go users sharply dropped\u003c/a> in the following years. \u003ca href=\"https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/07/how-covid-19-transformed-pokemon-go-into-pokemon-stay-at-home/\">The COVID-19 pandemic also placed logistical constraints \u003c/a>on players’ ability to play the game outside their homes — however, some players told KQED that Pokémon Go helped them socialize and get outdoors during school closures and other shelter-in-place measures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the intervening years, the game has developed new visuals and maps to keep fans playing. And play they do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11983010\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11983010\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-07-KQED-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-07-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-07-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-07-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-07-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-07-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-07-KQED.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mitchel Ng (right) plays the mobile game, Pokémon Go, with other children at the Richmond Library during their Pokémon Celebration Day event in San Francisco on April 13, 2024. \u003ccite>(Aryk Copley/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>At a handful of San Francisco Public Library branch locations that day, fans marking \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11981532/san-franciscos-pokemon-spring-celebration-day-is-in-the-works\">Pokémon Celebration Day\u003c/a> could come together to trade cards, pick up free Pokémon books and stickers — and make personalized buttons of their favorite characters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The event started back in 2022, but this year was the first time city leaders recognized it through a resolution marking the day of celebration.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>For children’s librarian Andrew Ho, who helped organize the library event on Saturday, Pokémon Go continues to be a source of joy and nostalgia over the decades — and even a healthy dose of escapism.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I was a child when the very first Pokémon came out,” Ho says. “I was playing, collecting cards, doing all that, and it was perfect nostalgia for Sunday morning cartoons. Then it just kinda stuck.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for Pokémon Go, Ho has been playing the mobile game since it was released and says he’s never stopped in the eight years since.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It might be a problem,” Ho says. “Every generation has its own different experience with Pokémon. I think that’s why this game is so popular: You can play it with your kids or your grandkids.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘It’s just fun!’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Organizers of the library event — including city Supervisor Connie Chan and Natalie Gee, the chief of staff for Supervisor Shamann Walton — also worked with the game’s creators to set up a special “PokéStop” at the Richmond Library, where players can refuel on game items like eggs and Poké Balls, which are used to catch Pokémon creatures in the game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Michelle Mai was there with her two young boys, who were stocking up on their favorite items and making friends at the library along the way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11983009\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11983009 size-medium\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-06-KQED-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-06-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-06-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-06-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-06-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-06-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240413-POKEMON-LIBRARY-AC-06-KQED.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Michalis Ng (left), Michelle Mai (center) and Mitchel Ng gather at the Richmond Library for a Pokémon Celebration Day event in San Francisco on April 13, 2024. \u003ccite>(Aryk Copley/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Pokémon Go, Mai says, is “very international — so you can take it with you to different places and stations to catch different types of Pokémon. They really like going to the beach and catching a water-type Pokémon, or we go first, and they can catch a grass-type,” she says of her children’s engagement with the game as a family activity. “We talk a lot about it, and it is always a happy conversation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mai’s son, Mitchel Ng, nodded in agreement while playing the game next to her. Like many in attendance on Pokémon Celebration Day, Pokémon has played a role in a good portion of his life so far.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’ve been playing this for over two years,” says the 8-year-old, pointing to his favorite character, Mewtwo. “It’s just fun!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/sundaymusicdrop\">The Sunday Music Drop is a weekly radio series hosted by the KQED weekend news team.\u003c/a> In each segment, we feature a song from a local musician or band with an upcoming show and hear about what inspires their music.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mayari is an East Bay-based “avant-garde post-rock band” that incorporates esoteric sounds and different song structures into its music.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In some of our songs, we add like a bunch of synthesizers or field sounds — and field sounds are basically things you capture on some recording device in nature or public — and then we incorporate those into the songs kind of as like an avant-garde, or \u003ci>musique concrète \u003c/i>passage,” says Ryan Foo, vocalist, guitarist and producer for Mayari. “And so, a lot of the earlier songs we did, we have these long sections of experimental-like noises, where it’s just that, or we’ve released tracks where it’s just noise and drums on it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The band started near the end of 2017 when Foo and Jordan Torio (guitarist and vocalist) met through Craigslist, and they wanted just to play music. Originally, they had no intention of forming a band, but the two got along so well that they decided to go for it. They decided early on to have a collaborative process for songwriting and practice together to work through ideas. The group has several musical influences, ranging from pop punk and old hardcore to The Beatles and lo-fi rock.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The band’s name came from Torio looking through words in the Filipino dictionary and found the word mayari meant moon priestess.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“[Torio] really liked that, and I think I was just out of ideas at the time, so I said yes,” Foo says. “And we’ve also heard from other Filipino people that Mayari means master of sound or to create. So it’s kind of an interesting, like, we are the masters of what we create. So it kind of fits; it’s a double meaning, I guess. Masters of creation and moon priestess.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Regarding “After the Rain,” Foo says that Torio wrote the song based on his experience at a time when everything felt kind of monotonous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This one’s our most recent song that we’ve pretty much put out, and I’d say it’s a very accurate representation of who the band is right now,” Foo says. “‘After the Rain’ is really just us trying to push ourselves into a new territory that we’re not totally familiar with, but you know, we take it as a positive challenge.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jason Marrero and Hansel Von Muller are also members of the band. Mayari will perform at the \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyarthouse.wordpress.com\">Art House Gallery & Cultural Center\u003c/a> in Berkeley on May 18, so you can go hear them live.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/sundaymusicdrop\">The Sunday Music Drop is a weekly radio series hosted by the KQED weekend news team.\u003c/a> In each segment, we feature a song from a local musician or band with an upcoming show and hear about what inspires their music.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mayari is an East Bay-based “avant-garde post-rock band” that incorporates esoteric sounds and different song structures into its music.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In some of our songs, we add like a bunch of synthesizers or field sounds — and field sounds are basically things you capture on some recording device in nature or public — and then we incorporate those into the songs kind of as like an avant-garde, or \u003ci>musique concrète \u003c/i>passage,” says Ryan Foo, vocalist, guitarist and producer for Mayari. “And so, a lot of the earlier songs we did, we have these long sections of experimental-like noises, where it’s just that, or we’ve released tracks where it’s just noise and drums on it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The band started near the end of 2017 when Foo and Jordan Torio (guitarist and vocalist) met through Craigslist, and they wanted just to play music. Originally, they had no intention of forming a band, but the two got along so well that they decided to go for it. They decided early on to have a collaborative process for songwriting and practice together to work through ideas. The group has several musical influences, ranging from pop punk and old hardcore to The Beatles and lo-fi rock.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The band’s name came from Torio looking through words in the Filipino dictionary and found the word mayari meant moon priestess.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“[Torio] really liked that, and I think I was just out of ideas at the time, so I said yes,” Foo says. “And we’ve also heard from other Filipino people that Mayari means master of sound or to create. So it’s kind of an interesting, like, we are the masters of what we create. So it kind of fits; it’s a double meaning, I guess. Masters of creation and moon priestess.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Regarding “After the Rain,” Foo says that Torio wrote the song based on his experience at a time when everything felt kind of monotonous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This one’s our most recent song that we’ve pretty much put out, and I’d say it’s a very accurate representation of who the band is right now,” Foo says. “‘After the Rain’ is really just us trying to push ourselves into a new territory that we’re not totally familiar with, but you know, we take it as a positive challenge.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jason Marrero and Hansel Von Muller are also members of the band. Mayari will perform at the \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyarthouse.wordpress.com\">Art House Gallery & Cultural Center\u003c/a> in Berkeley on May 18, so you can go hear them live.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>When Juan de Dios Soto first arrived in California in 1990, he dreamed of a place where he could share the dance and sounds of his beloved birth country: Peru.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Soto settled in San Francisco, where he saw how different Latin American cultures coexisted in the city’s Mission District. He saw Honduran Garifuna \u003ca href=\"https://www.honduras.com/aprende/cultura/etnias/la-punta-danza-garifuna-de-honduras/\">punta\u003c/a> performed alongside Mexican \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2011/10/29/141723031/a-musical-style-that-unites-mexican-americans\">son jarocho\u003c/a> in the city’s annual Carnaval celebration. He heard salsa, banda and samba all regularly played on the same block.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[pullquote size=\"medium\" align=\"right\" citation=\" Diana Angulo, dance instructor\"]‘We want to represent the incredible diversity of Peru through what we teach and show the music of the jungle, the coast and the Sierra.’[/pullquote]He and his sister Lydia — a teacher of Afro-Peruvian dance — quickly got involved in festivals and community celebrations with the hope of growing the presence of Peruvian music and dance in the Bay. And both of them knew that, eventually, they wanted to bring about a permanent home for Peruvian culture here in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“To speak of Peru is to speak of Latin America,” Soto said. “There are so many cultures in one place: There is such a strong Indigenous culture. There is such a strong African culture— and a strong Asian culture, as well.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=\"news_11729926\" label=\"Related Stories\"]As a city, San Francisco has \u003ca href=\"https://www.inei.gob.pe/media/MenuRecursivo/publicaciones_digitales/Est/Lib1549/libro.pdf\">one of the biggest Peruvian diasporas in the world, and \u003c/a>there are many more Peruvian communities throughout the rest of the Bay Area, including in cities like San Jose and Redwood City. More and more Peruvians are migrating to California cities, \u003ca href=\"https://www.gob.pe/institucion/inei/informes-publicaciones/3315838-peru-estadisticas-de-la-emigracion-internacional-de-peruanos-e-inmigracion-de-extranjeros-1990-2021\">according to official data from the Peruvian government\u003c/a> – and as more folks settle down, many are also seeking opportunities to teach (and learn) traditions and arts from all across Peru.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After more than three decades since arriving in San Francisco, the Soto siblings opened \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/perutpcc\">Tradición Peruana Cultural Center\u003c/a>, located in the Mission District. “The Peruvian community in the Bay Area has grown a lot in the past ten years, which makes having this place even more important,” he said. “But this place is open to all, both to Peruvians and non-Peruvians alike.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11981754\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-18-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11981754\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-18-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A woman on the left, and two men sit on blocks in an art studio and clap their hands.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-18-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-18-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-18-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-18-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-18-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-18-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Juan de Dios Soto (center) leads Lucy Babayan (left) and Hopeton Hess (right) in a cajon class at the Tradición Peruana Cultural Center in San Francisco on April 1, 2024. \u003ccite>(Kathryn Styer Martínez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The center, which has several exhibition spaces, a dance studio and a computer lab, also serves as a practice space for Tradición Peruana’s contingent in \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/carnaval-san-francisco\">this year’s Carnaval parade\u003c/a> — a true symbol of the Peruvian community’s role in \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg6yS0iMHWk\">the Bay Area’s biggest Latino cultural celebration\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And right now, there are more classes and workshops on Peruvian dance and music offered in the Bay Area than ever before. We’ve brought together the voices of those working to expand the reach of Peruvian music and dance throughout the Bay Area, along with just some of the ways to learn yourself through classes and workshops.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>In San Francisco, following the beats of the cajón\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“The cajón is the flagship instrument within the Afro-Peruvian musical tradition,” Soto said, holding up a simple wooden box the size of a microwave with a hole on the side. When he sits on it and begins to play a rhythm that quickly grows in complexity, the sound of the cajón carries throughout the multiple rooms of Tradición Peruana. When he deftly switches up the beat, it’s difficult not to want to dance along.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The cajón may be simple, but it’s a very versatile instrument,” said Soto, who’s been playing it almost his whole life. “For us, to play the cajón is a lifestyle — a philosophy.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The history of the cajón \u003ca href=\"https://peru.info/en-us/talent/news/6/25/peruvian-cajon--the-history-and-importance-of-one-of-the-most-surprising-instruments-in-the-world\">also reflects the larger history of the African diaspora in Peru\u003c/a>. During the colonial era, the Spanish brought tens of thousands of enslaved Africans to Peru by force. In Lima, leather-bound drums were banned as part of a larger effort to repress African culture and traditions. In the 16th century, folks resisted these prohibitions by looking for alternatives and started using empty wooden boxes — of which there were plenty in the busy ports surrounding Lima — as percussion instruments. Over the following centuries, what that wooden box evolved into is now an indispensable part of several musical traditions of Peru, like the marinera, tondero and festejo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11981756\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-25-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11981756\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-25-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A man wearing glasses and a white t-shirt stands outside.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-25-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-25-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-25-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-25-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-25-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-25-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Juan de Dios Soto teaches the cajon class at the Tradición Peruana Cultural Center in San Francisco on April 1, 2024. \u003ccite>(Kathryn Styer Martínez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Soto teaches cajón at both Tradición Peruana and the nearby Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts. On a Monday afternoon at Tradición Peruana, he joins his students in a circle, each of them with their own cajón — and as they practice in the main exhibition space of the center, which opens up to 22nd Street, the warm afternoon light streams into the center and the rhythm of the cajón flows into the street.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Cajón classes with Juan de Dios Soto:\u003c/h2>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mondays and Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Tradición Peruana Cultural Center, 2815 23rd St., San Francisco. The center does have cajones available for students to use.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, 2868 Mission St., San Francisco.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>In SF and San Mateo, ‘a dance of love’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In the dance studio across the hall from Tradición Peruana’s cajón lesson, Mónica Mendoza prepares to lead a class of her own. In her hands, she carries several white handkerchiefs — essential for marinera norteña, one of the national dances of Peru.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mendoza has taught marinera — a dance she first saw as a little girl in the northern coastal town of Chimbote — for years. A storied marinera dancer in her own right, she’s participated in multiple international competitions and recently became the Queen of this year’s Carnaval San Francisco — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/event/3963/\">a historic competition recently held at KQED’s headquarters\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11981753\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-12-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11981753\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-12-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A woman wearing all black clothing adjusts a white skirt of a young girl in a dance studio. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-12-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-12-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-12-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-12-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-12-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-12-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Monica Mendoza (left) secures a falda on her daughter, Gabrielle Poth (right), during marinera class in San Francisco on April 1, 2024. \u003ccite>(Kathryn Styer Martínez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The marinera is a dance of love. It could be a love between a couple, or two friends or kids,” Mendoza said. “The idea is to show that on the dance floor, to express that message.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like the cajón, the marinera has been shaped by Peru’s African diaspora. But the dance also has very strong Indigenous and European influence. And in a reflection of the immense racial and cultural diversity of the country, each region of Peru has its own variation: marinera limeña, arequipeña, andina and norteña, which is what Mendoza teaches. “Each person can also add their own individual style to show where they come from, which region they represent,” she said. “And here in the United States, we’re adding our own twists.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11981752\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-9-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11981752\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-9-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A woman wearing a red polka dot skirt and purple top practices in a dance studio with a young girl in the background.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-9-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-9-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-9-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-9-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-9-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-9-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Solange Bonilla, 48, attends marinera dance class in San Francisco on April 1, 2024. Bonilla learned marinera when she was growing up in northern Peru. She said dancing now keeps her connected to her culture. \u003ccite>(Kathryn Styer Martínez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I’m in love with this dance,” said Mendoza, who makes a round trip from San José every time she teaches at Tradición Peruana. And when she’s not there, she’s teaching at her own dance academy in San Mateo: \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/PeruExpressionss/\">Peru Expressions\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I want people — both Peruvians and non-Peruvians — to learn about what this dance represents and the joy it brings,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Marinera norteña classes with Monica Mendoza:\u003c/h2>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mondays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Tradición Peruana Cultural Center, 2815 23rd St., San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">Multiple weekly classes at Peru Expressions, 1880 S. Grant St., San Mateo. Contact Mendoza \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/PeruExpressionss/\">via Facebook to register for a class\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>In the East Bay, ‘the music of the jungle, the coast and the Sierra’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Across the Bay in El Cerrito, there’s yet another effort to make Peruvian culture more accessible. For the past few years, dance teacher Diana Angulo has been bringing dancers and musicians to this small city in Contra Costa County to offer workshops to the community — out of her home.\u003cbr>\n“There’s not many Peruvians over here,” Angulo said — “but what we offer is very valuable to those who \u003ci>are \u003c/i>here.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What began as informal meet-ups among friends and neighbors has evolved into the dance school Con Fuerza Perú Academia de Danzas, which offers lessons on marinera norteña and marinera limeña, along with \u003ca href=\"https://www.peru.travel/en/masperu/get-to-know-the-most-traditional-and-colorful-dances-of-peru\">tondero\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://peru.info/en-us/talent/news/6/24/a-rhythm-with-a-lot-of-history-and-pride--festejo--how-did-this-peruvian-dance-originate-\">festejo\u003c/a> dances.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We want to represent the incredible diversity of Peru through what we teach,” she said, “and show the music of the jungle, the coast and the Sierra.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11981751\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-7-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11981751\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-7-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Two young women wearing flowing skirts dance in front of two other women in a dance studio.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-7-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-7-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-7-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-7-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-7-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-7-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gabrielle Poth (center) and Susana Mejia (right) practice in their faldas at Monica Mendoza’s (left) marinera dance class in San Francisco on April 1, 2024. \u003ccite>(Kathryn Styer Martínez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Raised by a musical family in Lima, Angulo migrated to the United States in the 1990s. When she dances marinera norteña, she said it brings so many memories of Peru — but it also gives her an opportunity to claim her new home, the Bay Area. She’s represented San Francisco in multiple international dance competitions and is currently one of two queens for the San Francisco chapter of Club Libertad, which is a marinera norteña club with affiliates all over the world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When she isn’t dancing competitively — or working her separate full-time job — Angulo dedicates whatever is left of her free time to growing the academy. Accessing this kind of cultural knowledge through dance, she said, should be open to students from all backgrounds — not just Peruvian families.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“No matter if they come from El Salvador, Mexico or Colombia, the idea is to deepen the ties of our community,” she said. “We want to continue growing that seed of affection, respect and pride for our cultures.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>\u003ci>Class schedules and offerings for Con Fuerza Perú vary by week. You can contact \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063657831891&mibextid=LQQJ4d\">Angulo\u003c/a> through the Con Fuerza Perú website.\u003c/i>\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Other lessons and opportunities\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At Tradición Peruana, Lydia Soto teaches Afro-Peruvian dance on Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The center also offers percussion, guitar, boxing, capoeira and yoga classes. \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/perutpcc\">You can find the complete listing here.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Berkeley, La Peña Cultural Center offers lessons for several traditional Peruvian dances, including, Marinera Limeña, Festejo Peruano, along with several workshops on Afro-Peruvian Percussion & Dance Ensemble. The schedule varies each week.\u003ca href=\"https://lapena.org/events/category/class-workshop/\"> Find the complete listing here\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>When Juan de Dios Soto first arrived in California in 1990, he dreamed of a place where he could share the dance and sounds of his beloved birth country: Peru.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Soto settled in San Francisco, where he saw how different Latin American cultures coexisted in the city’s Mission District. He saw Honduran Garifuna \u003ca href=\"https://www.honduras.com/aprende/cultura/etnias/la-punta-danza-garifuna-de-honduras/\">punta\u003c/a> performed alongside Mexican \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2011/10/29/141723031/a-musical-style-that-unites-mexican-americans\">son jarocho\u003c/a> in the city’s annual Carnaval celebration. He heard salsa, banda and samba all regularly played on the same block.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>He and his sister Lydia — a teacher of Afro-Peruvian dance — quickly got involved in festivals and community celebrations with the hope of growing the presence of Peruvian music and dance in the Bay. And both of them knew that, eventually, they wanted to bring about a permanent home for Peruvian culture here in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“To speak of Peru is to speak of Latin America,” Soto said. “There are so many cultures in one place: There is such a strong Indigenous culture. There is such a strong African culture— and a strong Asian culture, as well.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>As a city, San Francisco has \u003ca href=\"https://www.inei.gob.pe/media/MenuRecursivo/publicaciones_digitales/Est/Lib1549/libro.pdf\">one of the biggest Peruvian diasporas in the world, and \u003c/a>there are many more Peruvian communities throughout the rest of the Bay Area, including in cities like San Jose and Redwood City. More and more Peruvians are migrating to California cities, \u003ca href=\"https://www.gob.pe/institucion/inei/informes-publicaciones/3315838-peru-estadisticas-de-la-emigracion-internacional-de-peruanos-e-inmigracion-de-extranjeros-1990-2021\">according to official data from the Peruvian government\u003c/a> – and as more folks settle down, many are also seeking opportunities to teach (and learn) traditions and arts from all across Peru.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After more than three decades since arriving in San Francisco, the Soto siblings opened \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/perutpcc\">Tradición Peruana Cultural Center\u003c/a>, located in the Mission District. “The Peruvian community in the Bay Area has grown a lot in the past ten years, which makes having this place even more important,” he said. “But this place is open to all, both to Peruvians and non-Peruvians alike.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11981754\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-18-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11981754\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-18-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A woman on the left, and two men sit on blocks in an art studio and clap their hands.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-18-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-18-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-18-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-18-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-18-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-18-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Juan de Dios Soto (center) leads Lucy Babayan (left) and Hopeton Hess (right) in a cajon class at the Tradición Peruana Cultural Center in San Francisco on April 1, 2024. \u003ccite>(Kathryn Styer Martínez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The center, which has several exhibition spaces, a dance studio and a computer lab, also serves as a practice space for Tradición Peruana’s contingent in \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/carnaval-san-francisco\">this year’s Carnaval parade\u003c/a> — a true symbol of the Peruvian community’s role in \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg6yS0iMHWk\">the Bay Area’s biggest Latino cultural celebration\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And right now, there are more classes and workshops on Peruvian dance and music offered in the Bay Area than ever before. We’ve brought together the voices of those working to expand the reach of Peruvian music and dance throughout the Bay Area, along with just some of the ways to learn yourself through classes and workshops.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>In San Francisco, following the beats of the cajón\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“The cajón is the flagship instrument within the Afro-Peruvian musical tradition,” Soto said, holding up a simple wooden box the size of a microwave with a hole on the side. When he sits on it and begins to play a rhythm that quickly grows in complexity, the sound of the cajón carries throughout the multiple rooms of Tradición Peruana. When he deftly switches up the beat, it’s difficult not to want to dance along.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The cajón may be simple, but it’s a very versatile instrument,” said Soto, who’s been playing it almost his whole life. “For us, to play the cajón is a lifestyle — a philosophy.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The history of the cajón \u003ca href=\"https://peru.info/en-us/talent/news/6/25/peruvian-cajon--the-history-and-importance-of-one-of-the-most-surprising-instruments-in-the-world\">also reflects the larger history of the African diaspora in Peru\u003c/a>. During the colonial era, the Spanish brought tens of thousands of enslaved Africans to Peru by force. In Lima, leather-bound drums were banned as part of a larger effort to repress African culture and traditions. In the 16th century, folks resisted these prohibitions by looking for alternatives and started using empty wooden boxes — of which there were plenty in the busy ports surrounding Lima — as percussion instruments. Over the following centuries, what that wooden box evolved into is now an indispensable part of several musical traditions of Peru, like the marinera, tondero and festejo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11981756\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-25-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11981756\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-25-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A man wearing glasses and a white t-shirt stands outside.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-25-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-25-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-25-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-25-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-25-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-25-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Juan de Dios Soto teaches the cajon class at the Tradición Peruana Cultural Center in San Francisco on April 1, 2024. \u003ccite>(Kathryn Styer Martínez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Soto teaches cajón at both Tradición Peruana and the nearby Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts. On a Monday afternoon at Tradición Peruana, he joins his students in a circle, each of them with their own cajón — and as they practice in the main exhibition space of the center, which opens up to 22nd Street, the warm afternoon light streams into the center and the rhythm of the cajón flows into the street.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Cajón classes with Juan de Dios Soto:\u003c/h2>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mondays and Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Tradición Peruana Cultural Center, 2815 23rd St., San Francisco. The center does have cajones available for students to use.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, 2868 Mission St., San Francisco.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>In SF and San Mateo, ‘a dance of love’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In the dance studio across the hall from Tradición Peruana’s cajón lesson, Mónica Mendoza prepares to lead a class of her own. In her hands, she carries several white handkerchiefs — essential for marinera norteña, one of the national dances of Peru.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mendoza has taught marinera — a dance she first saw as a little girl in the northern coastal town of Chimbote — for years. A storied marinera dancer in her own right, she’s participated in multiple international competitions and recently became the Queen of this year’s Carnaval San Francisco — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/event/3963/\">a historic competition recently held at KQED’s headquarters\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11981753\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-12-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11981753\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-12-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A woman wearing all black clothing adjusts a white skirt of a young girl in a dance studio. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-12-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-12-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-12-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-12-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-12-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-12-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Monica Mendoza (left) secures a falda on her daughter, Gabrielle Poth (right), during marinera class in San Francisco on April 1, 2024. \u003ccite>(Kathryn Styer Martínez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The marinera is a dance of love. It could be a love between a couple, or two friends or kids,” Mendoza said. “The idea is to show that on the dance floor, to express that message.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like the cajón, the marinera has been shaped by Peru’s African diaspora. But the dance also has very strong Indigenous and European influence. And in a reflection of the immense racial and cultural diversity of the country, each region of Peru has its own variation: marinera limeña, arequipeña, andina and norteña, which is what Mendoza teaches. “Each person can also add their own individual style to show where they come from, which region they represent,” she said. “And here in the United States, we’re adding our own twists.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11981752\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-9-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11981752\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-9-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A woman wearing a red polka dot skirt and purple top practices in a dance studio with a young girl in the background.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-9-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-9-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-9-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-9-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-9-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-9-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Solange Bonilla, 48, attends marinera dance class in San Francisco on April 1, 2024. Bonilla learned marinera when she was growing up in northern Peru. She said dancing now keeps her connected to her culture. \u003ccite>(Kathryn Styer Martínez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I’m in love with this dance,” said Mendoza, who makes a round trip from San José every time she teaches at Tradición Peruana. And when she’s not there, she’s teaching at her own dance academy in San Mateo: \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/PeruExpressionss/\">Peru Expressions\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I want people — both Peruvians and non-Peruvians — to learn about what this dance represents and the joy it brings,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Marinera norteña classes with Monica Mendoza:\u003c/h2>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mondays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Tradición Peruana Cultural Center, 2815 23rd St., San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">Multiple weekly classes at Peru Expressions, 1880 S. Grant St., San Mateo. Contact Mendoza \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/PeruExpressionss/\">via Facebook to register for a class\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>In the East Bay, ‘the music of the jungle, the coast and the Sierra’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Across the Bay in El Cerrito, there’s yet another effort to make Peruvian culture more accessible. For the past few years, dance teacher Diana Angulo has been bringing dancers and musicians to this small city in Contra Costa County to offer workshops to the community — out of her home.\u003cbr>\n“There’s not many Peruvians over here,” Angulo said — “but what we offer is very valuable to those who \u003ci>are \u003c/i>here.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What began as informal meet-ups among friends and neighbors has evolved into the dance school Con Fuerza Perú Academia de Danzas, which offers lessons on marinera norteña and marinera limeña, along with \u003ca href=\"https://www.peru.travel/en/masperu/get-to-know-the-most-traditional-and-colorful-dances-of-peru\">tondero\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://peru.info/en-us/talent/news/6/24/a-rhythm-with-a-lot-of-history-and-pride--festejo--how-did-this-peruvian-dance-originate-\">festejo\u003c/a> dances.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We want to represent the incredible diversity of Peru through what we teach,” she said, “and show the music of the jungle, the coast and the Sierra.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11981751\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-7-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11981751\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-7-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Two young women wearing flowing skirts dance in front of two other women in a dance studio.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-7-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-7-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-7-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-7-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-7-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240401-PERUANA-SPACES-KSM-7-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gabrielle Poth (center) and Susana Mejia (right) practice in their faldas at Monica Mendoza’s (left) marinera dance class in San Francisco on April 1, 2024. \u003ccite>(Kathryn Styer Martínez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Raised by a musical family in Lima, Angulo migrated to the United States in the 1990s. When she dances marinera norteña, she said it brings so many memories of Peru — but it also gives her an opportunity to claim her new home, the Bay Area. She’s represented San Francisco in multiple international dance competitions and is currently one of two queens for the San Francisco chapter of Club Libertad, which is a marinera norteña club with affiliates all over the world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When she isn’t dancing competitively — or working her separate full-time job — Angulo dedicates whatever is left of her free time to growing the academy. Accessing this kind of cultural knowledge through dance, she said, should be open to students from all backgrounds — not just Peruvian families.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“No matter if they come from El Salvador, Mexico or Colombia, the idea is to deepen the ties of our community,” she said. “We want to continue growing that seed of affection, respect and pride for our cultures.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>\u003ci>Class schedules and offerings for Con Fuerza Perú vary by week. You can contact \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063657831891&mibextid=LQQJ4d\">Angulo\u003c/a> through the Con Fuerza Perú website.\u003c/i>\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Other lessons and opportunities\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At Tradición Peruana, Lydia Soto teaches Afro-Peruvian dance on Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The center also offers percussion, guitar, boxing, capoeira and yoga classes. \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/perutpcc\">You can find the complete listing here.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Berkeley, La Peña Cultural Center offers lessons for several traditional Peruvian dances, including, Marinera Limeña, Festejo Peruano, along with several workshops on Afro-Peruvian Percussion & Dance Ensemble. The schedule varies each week.\u003ca href=\"https://lapena.org/events/category/class-workshop/\"> Find the complete listing here\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "Raffi Garabedian: 'First Trip to Fresno'",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/sundaymusicdrop\">The Sunday Music Drop is a weekly radio series hosted by the KQED weekend news team.\u003c/a> In each segment, we feature a song from a local musician or band with an upcoming show and hear about what inspires their music.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When tenor saxophonist and composer Raffi Garabedian creates music, he enjoys improvising and communicating through his instrument. Garabedian is a second generation Armenian American who was born and raised in Berkeley and now lives in Oakland. He gigs regularly in jazz bands around the Bay Area and his brother is a local bass player.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think our life or society has very little room for the unknown and for the abstract and for exploration,” said Garabedian. “And so art functions as an outlet for people, either for the listener or the performer.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His song “First Trip to Fresno,” is from his latest record, \u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://raffigarabedian.bandcamp.com/album/the-crazy-dog-2\">The Crazy Dog\u003c/a>\u003c/em>. The album is about him sharing his late father’s writings and work that hasn’t been published. His father was a professor who taught criminology and sociology at San Francisco State University. He passed away on March 18, 2020.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s just like, piles and pages and documents of all sorts of writing, creative writing, poetry, family history, and so for me, this is a way I can kind of share that,” he said. “The lyrics from the song are taken from a story that my father would always tell us, and he wrote it in his memoir.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The story is about his father’s family driving across the country and seeing how vast the United States is for the first time from a young boy’s eyes, and arriving to the West Coast where some of his extended family lived.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“His writing, I think, was just his voice, just like the saxophone is my voice,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The band includes Danielle Wertz, Jonathan Beshay, Ben Goldberg, Danny Lubin-Laden, Dierk Peters, Rashaan Carter and Sean Mullins. If you’d like to hear Raffi Garabedian live, he’ll be performing at the \u003ca href=\"http://sfsound.org/series/#2024.4.14\">Desher Ensemble Studio\u003c/a> as part of the West Oakland Sound Series on April 14 at 7 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"excerpt": "In this episode of the Sunday Music Drop, tenor saxophonist and composer Raffi Garabedian shares his song 'First Trip to Fresno,' about his father's family driving across the country to the West Coast.",
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"title": "Raffi Garabedian: 'First Trip to Fresno' | KQED",
"description": "In this episode of the Sunday Music Drop, tenor saxophonist and composer Raffi Garabedian shares his song 'First Trip to Fresno,' about his father's family driving across the country to the West Coast.",
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"headline": "Raffi Garabedian: 'First Trip to Fresno'",
"datePublished": "2024-04-07T16:30:46-07:00",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/sundaymusicdrop\">The Sunday Music Drop is a weekly radio series hosted by the KQED weekend news team.\u003c/a> In each segment, we feature a song from a local musician or band with an upcoming show and hear about what inspires their music.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When tenor saxophonist and composer Raffi Garabedian creates music, he enjoys improvising and communicating through his instrument. Garabedian is a second generation Armenian American who was born and raised in Berkeley and now lives in Oakland. He gigs regularly in jazz bands around the Bay Area and his brother is a local bass player.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think our life or society has very little room for the unknown and for the abstract and for exploration,” said Garabedian. “And so art functions as an outlet for people, either for the listener or the performer.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His song “First Trip to Fresno,” is from his latest record, \u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://raffigarabedian.bandcamp.com/album/the-crazy-dog-2\">The Crazy Dog\u003c/a>\u003c/em>. The album is about him sharing his late father’s writings and work that hasn’t been published. His father was a professor who taught criminology and sociology at San Francisco State University. He passed away on March 18, 2020.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s just like, piles and pages and documents of all sorts of writing, creative writing, poetry, family history, and so for me, this is a way I can kind of share that,” he said. “The lyrics from the song are taken from a story that my father would always tell us, and he wrote it in his memoir.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The story is about his father’s family driving across the country and seeing how vast the United States is for the first time from a young boy’s eyes, and arriving to the West Coast where some of his extended family lived.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“His writing, I think, was just his voice, just like the saxophone is my voice,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The band includes Danielle Wertz, Jonathan Beshay, Ben Goldberg, Danny Lubin-Laden, Dierk Peters, Rashaan Carter and Sean Mullins. If you’d like to hear Raffi Garabedian live, he’ll be performing at the \u003ca href=\"http://sfsound.org/series/#2024.4.14\">Desher Ensemble Studio\u003c/a> as part of the West Oakland Sound Series on April 14 at 7 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "how-sfs-drag-queens-shaped-the-city-and-the-world",
"title": "How SF's Drag Queens Shaped the City (and the World)",
"publishDate": 1711015213,
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"headTitle": "How SF’s Drag Queens Shaped the City (and the World) | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">\u003ci>View the full episode transcript.\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Drag as an art form dates back centuries, but as shows like MTV’s RuPaul’s Drag Race have grown a worldwide following, drag has become more visible than ever. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[baycuriouspodcastinfo]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The show’s namesake and host, RuPaul, arguably the most famous drag queen in the world, is now the most decorated television host in Emmy history. Not Johnny Carson, not Barbara Walters … RuPaul.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But there is also a heated debate coursing through statehouses and on some media programs about whether or not drag queens are appropriate entertainment for adults and children alike. Florida, Montana, Tennessee and Texas all have laws that, though unenforceable due to a federal court order, would ban drag performances.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In San Francisco, this debate over drag is long settled.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Drag is as crucial to the identity of this city as the cable car,” said Peaches Christ, a San Francisco drag performer, director and provocateur for the last three decades. “Straight people have wigs in this town!” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Drag has been breaking ground and creating a community for San Franciscans for almost a century.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>But how did it get that way?\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Drag has been an active part of the entertainment scene in San Francisco since the 1930s.\u003cbr>\n\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Early drag in San Francisco was presented in a way that was safe for straight audiences,” Christ said. “It traditionally has meant a cis man who dons women’s clothes, for entertainment purposes, usually pretty fabulous and flamboyant.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Finocchio’s Club was an institution for 60 years in the North Beach neighborhood and featured “female illusion.” This was light-hearted fun. None of the heavy stuff and definitely no politics. But that was about to shift.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11980250\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 600px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11980250\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/Medium-sized-JPEG.jpg\" alt=\"A black and white photo featuring eight drag queens posing on a multi-tiered stage, wearing gowns.\" width=\"600\" height=\"489\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/Medium-sized-JPEG.jpg 600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/Medium-sized-JPEG-160x130.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Finocchio’s nightclub was known for its “female impersonators” who entertained patrons nightly. This 1958 photo shows the cast of the floor show. \u003ccite>(San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>Her Royal Majesty, Empress of San Francisco, José I, The Widow Norton\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">At The Black Cat Club, another North Beach hot spot, Jose Sarria was a cocktail waiter turned drag queen who sang operatic arias. During Sarria’s performances, she started to encourage patrons to stop living double lives and to come out of the closet. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 1961, Sarria ran for a San Francisco Board of Supervisors seat. He lost, but his campaign was an early demonstration of the power of the gay voting bloc that would eventually elect Harvey Milk.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11980181\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1493px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11980181\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1322409068.jpg\" alt=\"A person wearing a white full body leotard and a pink tutu and white angel wings and a crown. They are gesturing toward the camera, as if to take flight.\" width=\"1493\" height=\"991\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1322409068.jpg 1493w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1322409068-800x531.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1322409068-1020x677.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1322409068-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1493px) 100vw, 1493px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jose Sarria, a.k.a. The Widow Norton, dances as the Sugar Plum Fairy during the Dance-Along Nutcracker in 2006. \u003ccite>(LEA SUZUKI/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">After the political defeat, Sarria would proclaim himself “Her Royal Majesty, Empress of San Francisco, José I, The Widow Norton,” and create the Imperial Court. That network of LGBTQ charities is still in operation today and holds a visible presence in San Francisco.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>Compton’s Cafeteria Riot\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the Tenderloin, at Taylor and Turk Streets, a 24-hour diner called Compton’s Cafeteria was a generally safe spot for the neighborhood’s queer, gender non-conforming, drag, trans and sex-worker population.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Female impersonation” was illegal in the sixties, and police regularly harassed people who appeared to be in violation.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In August 1966, diner staff called the police one night and reported that the patrons had become rowdy. Though police records from the time no longer exist, an officer reportedly grabbed a trans woman to arrest her and she responded by throwing a cup of coffee in his face.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“It broke out into a rebellion that took to the streets,” Christ said, “and it’s worth noting that these trailblazers existed. They were trans women and drag performers who were fighting police on the streets of the Tenderloin.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot didn’t result in the widespread change that Stonewall would a few years later but it is the first known act of widespread resistance to police harassment in U.S. history.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>The Cockettes\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the sixties a counter-culture drag troupe called the Cockettes was breaking down walls in drag expression.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“They were hippies. They would put glitter in their beards, and they lived together like a commune,” Christ said. “They were an inclusive drag troupe that included straight people, cis women, men, trans women.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11980176\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11980176\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-603956872.jpg\" alt=\"Four performers in exaggereateid costumes on stage.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1324\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-603956872.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-603956872-800x552.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-603956872-1020x703.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-603956872-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-603956872-1536x1059.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Cockettes perform Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma in New York in July 1971. \u003ccite>(Jack Mitchell/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Cockettes are remembered for their outlandish parties at the Palace Theatre in North Beach and for their gender-bending expression of drag that pushed the boundaries beyond the usual ‘cis man in a dress’ drag formula.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“The Cockettes were fueled by glitter and drugs and lots and lots of talent,” added Christ. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It’s worth noting that LGBTQ recording artist and San Francisco disco legend Sylvester, best known for the song \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3vtOEiO6TY\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, was once a Cockette. The larger group would fizzle out almost as quickly as they began, but some members still perform today.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>The Ministry of the Sisters\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">During the 80s and early 90s, AIDS wreaked havoc on the city’s gay population. A ragtag group of charitable drag queen nuns sprang into action to try to save lives and became de facto spiritual leaders in the wake of the loss, fear and uncertainty.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“It was scary. Nobody knew what it was. All people knew was that gay men were getting sick and dying,” Sister Roma said. She joined the Sisters in 1987 in the midst of what she called AIDS hysteria. “I remember checking my tongue for white spots and feeling my lymph nodes.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Roma and the Sisters created and distributed a safer-sex pamphlet, Play Fair!, believed to be the first to use sex-positive language and humor, to the LGBTQ community, along with boatloads of condoms.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“We went out almost every night, through all the bars, getting condoms into hands, getting condoms into people’s minds,” Roma said, “Because we wanted to protect people and to save lives.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When they weren’t educating the community, the Sisters fought for the visibility of the AIDS crisis at a time when the federal government wouldn’t acknowledge the problem.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“There was a real consensus among some people that HIV/AIDS wasn’t an issue because it was killing all the right people,” Roma said. “It was intravenous drug users, prostitutes and faggots. Who cares, right?”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">As medications began to move HIV from a death sentence to a manageable disease, the Sisters’ ranks continued to swell with community activists and philanthropists simply delighted to play with their gender expression in interesting ways.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11980178\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11980178\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/118798286_3373916526051177_8781469385850932712_n.jpg\" alt='Seven \"sisters\" in their drag nun attire stand in front of Dolores Park in San Francisco. Near them is a sign that says \"wear a mask.\" They are all wearing masks as well.' width=\"1920\" height=\"1281\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/118798286_3373916526051177_8781469385850932712_n.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/118798286_3373916526051177_8781469385850932712_n-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/118798286_3373916526051177_8781469385850932712_n-1020x681.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/118798286_3373916526051177_8781469385850932712_n-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/118798286_3373916526051177_8781469385850932712_n-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence showed up to spread best practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, just as they did at the start of the AIDS crisis. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Sister Roma)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Sisters are now a worldwide organization but are just as active in San Francisco as ever. You can find the Sisters at community events, pride festivals, marches and they host the massive Easter in the Park featuring the Hunky Jesus and Foxy Mary contests. That event attracts tens of thousands of all ages and orientations to Dolores Park each Easter and has for 45 years.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>The Early Aughts\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the late nineties and early 2000s, the drag scene in San Francisco was getting edgier. A gritty show called “Trannyshack” was packing The Stud, a tiny bar in SoMa, on Tuesday nights for a wild party that completely broke the rules of drag.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Trannyshack was wild,” said Christ, who got her start in San Francisco drag at Trannyshack, “it was artistic, it was crazy, it was outrageous, it was drug and alcohol-fueled, and it was pure.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“[The word ‘tranny’ was] an irreverent and endearing way to refer to people who fell outside of the gender norm. It referred to drag queens, trans people, transvestites, cross-dressers, and it referred to every little nuance in between,” Christ said. “Trannyshack, a place where all these people could go and be accepted and party and to have fun.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Over the next two decades the host of Trannyshack, drag queen Heklina, became a beloved figure in San Francisco’s LGBTQ community despite her abrasive on-stage persona.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11980189\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11980189\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1157521655.jpg\" alt=\"A drag queen wears a orange-peach sequined gown. They are standing in front of a red curtain, speaking into a microphone. They have a big blonde wig, and lots of jewelry. \" width=\"1920\" height=\"1278\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1157521655.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1157521655-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1157521655-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1157521655-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1157521655-1536x1022.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Heklina performs onstage at the Roast Battle at the 2019 Clusterfest. Her on-stage persona had edge, but behind the scenes, Heklina was a kind person interested in charitable work. \u003ccite>(Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for Clusterfest)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Heklina presented herself in many ways as an unapologetically greedy bitch,” joked Christ, adding that though Heklina was always helping the community behind the scenes, “she was uncomfortable getting the credit for it. She was a secret nice person.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">When Heklina passed away suddenly in April of 2023 the San Francisco LGBTQ community organized a large memorial service that shut down the Castro for hours. The community came out by the thousands to mourn.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“The reason thousands of people showed up for her memorial wasn’t just because she was a funny entertainer,” Christ said, though she acknowledged that Heklina was hilarious, “People showed up in San Francisco because she had created community for them.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>Drag Story Hour\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 2015, the first drag performer for Drag Story Hour was Per Sia, who said she was leading a double life.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I was working at a children’s afterschool arts program during the day and performing in drag at night,” she said. When she was contacted to host the first Drag Story Hour, she said yes but had reservations. ” Up until that point, I kept everything separate.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The idea behind Drag Story Hour is a representation for children to have glamorous, positive and queer role models and to feel free to play with their own gender expression. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">After the first Drag Story Hour, Per Sia knew she’d done the right thing.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“There was this feeling of calmness,” she said, “all of my identities were in one place.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11980192\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 960px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11980192\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/image2.jpeg\" alt=\"A drag queen stands, gesturing dramatically while reading from a book. A handful of children sit by her feet.\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/image2.jpeg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/image2-800x600.jpeg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/image2-160x120.jpeg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Per Sia began reading to children at the first ever Drag Queen Story Hour in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Per Sia)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some conservative groups have criticized Drag Story Hour, but that doesn’t slow the organization or Per Sia down.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I still push forward because I love what I do,” Per Sia said, admitting that the threats from conservative groups have been scary. But she said it’s all worth it because she is setting an example for the children.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Little kids have the vocabulary to really identify what’s really going on inside, and that is so special to me,” Per Sia said with pride, “and it’s like, ‘I did that!’”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“There are now 20-something chapters of Drag Story Hour around the world,” Per Sia said, beaming, “I’m just over the moon to think that I am a part of that history.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>Defending Drag\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">As drag becomes more visible and harder to ignore, mainstream society is beginning to wrestle with the issue. By contrast, the San Francisco we know has been forged by drag.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“We have a transgender cultural district, a leather cultural district, the Castro cultural district. We have a drag laureate, ” proclaimed Sister Roma, “San Francisco does remain the beacon of hope to our queer community worldwide.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“To remove drag would be like taking the city and turning it black and white,” Peaches Christ said. “San Francisco is full of color and fabulousness and by removing drag from it and all of its variations, I think you’d really mute what makes it special. This city is run by drag.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">From North Beach to the Tenderloin, the Castro to SoMa, San Francisco history and drag \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">herstory\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> follow the same path, and often it’s those high-heeled footprints in the lead.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[baycuriousquestion]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2 id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> In the past decade, drag has become a centerpiece of American pop culture.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[Start Ru Paul’s Drag Race theme music]\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Maybe you’ve seen RuPaul’s Drag Race on MTV. The show and its host have won armfuls of Emmy awards. And RuPaul is widely regarded as the most famous drag queen in the world. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>RuPaul’s Drag Race clip: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The time has come for you to lip sync for your LIFE!\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Then there’s the drag brunches, drag bingo — and more recently, the Drag Story Hour — that have become ubiquitous in many cities.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But growing attention has also led to growing disdain.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>News clip: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It has everything to do with this being inappropriate.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Whether it’s love or hate on the national stage, drag is a hot topic of conversation. And you really can’t understand how we got to this point nationally without heading to San Francisco.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Drag in San Francisco is as crucial to the identity of this city as the cable car. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> We thought it was high-heel time to take a closer look at drag culture in San Francisco. Today, we’re taking a crash course through decades of Drag Herstory to better understand its larger impact on San Francisco and the country.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Straight people have wigs in this town.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia-Allen Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">A note: There is some potentially offensive language in this episode.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">I’m Olivia Allen-Price. Stick around for Bay Curious.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[Sponsor Message]\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> On any given night in San Francisco you can step into any number of bars in the city and find a drag queen at the center of the action. Like Betty Fresas at Midnight Sun on Thursday nights. She cracks jokes, lip-syncs, celebrates birthdays with shots … and light humiliation. It’s a blast! \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But in San Francisco, our queens do so much more than entertaining bar patrons. They serve their communities through fundraising, political activism and even by holding public office.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">KQED’s Christopher Beale spoke with three of San Francisco’s drag icons, starting with Peaches Christ.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> What is a drag queen? \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> A drag queen is someone who likes to use fabulous costumes and exaggerated performance to entertain people. And a drag queen, traditionally, has meant a cis man who dons women’s clothes for entertainment purposes, usually pretty fabulous and flamboyant. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> There are examples of what we might call drag today dating back centuries. The first time it was actually \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">called, that\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is believed to have happened around 1870. In the time since drag queens have evolved from underground entertainment to queer community leaders to international megastars. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> We’re kind of queer preachers in a way. We create fellowship, we create community, we make people laugh, we make people feel good about themselves, and when the shit hits the fan and stuff needs to be done, you often see it’s drag queens who are community organizers and the ones mobilizing to take care of a need. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> In San Francisco, drag dates back to at least the 1930s, but this \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">isn’t\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> a comprehensive history. The scene is too vibrant, and it could take hours — and many, many costume changes — so what I want to do is hit on a few key moments when drag culture left big impacts on San Francisco.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Early drag in San Francisco, it was an art form that actually wasn’t seen as that queer because they sort of presented it in a way that was safe for straight audiences. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Remember the opening scene of the Robin Williams movie \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Birdcage\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">? Think of a straight nightclub featuring female illusion.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>Peaches Christ: \u003c/b>In San Francisco, the longest-running nightclub that featured drag was called Finocchio’s over in North Beach.\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> And it was around for decades \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> From the mid-30s to the late 90s, these clubs in North Beach would feature drag queens lip-syncing pop songs and making jokes for largely straight audiences. This was light-hearted fun. None of the heavy stuff, and definitely no politics. But that was about to shift.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> And when that shift happened is when San Francisco really became different, and sort of special and unlike other drag communities. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> This drag queen named Jose Sarria started making noise about gay rights from the stage at another North Beach hotspot called, The Black Cat Club, encouraging people to stop living double lives.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sarria would grow his influence and go on to become the first openly gay candidate for public office in the United States in 1961, when he ran for a board of supervisor’s seat. He didn’t win, but he did reveal the power of the gay voting bloc in San Francisco and helped forge a path for Harvey Milk to be elected almost 20 years later. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jose Sarria didn’t take the electoral loss lying down, he continued his community work in drag and went on to inspire the creation of the Imperial Court system, an international network of charities still in operation today.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> A few years later, in 1966, drag performers were part of a pivotal moment in San Francisco and LGBTQ history. The night the Tenderloin became a tinder box of activity.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Compton’s Cafeteria was a late-night dining spot. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> A clean, safe, well-lit 24-hour diner in the Tenderloin. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Trans folks, drag performers, sex workers, the community could go there, this was a known place for people to gather.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> “Female impersonation” was still a crime in the 60s and the police regularly harassed people outside the gender binary. Even in the relative safety of the Tenderloin, which was then seen as a gay neighborhood, queer people were never truly safe. And on one hot August night, workers at the cafeteria called the police to deal with what they deemed rambunctious diners. Police records from the time don’t exist anymore, but a police officer is said to have grabbed a trans woman to arrest her.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> And the community fought back. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> She responded by throwing a cup of coffee in his face. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It broke out into a rebellion that took to the streets. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Sugar shakers were thrown through the restaurant windows and drag queens were seen beating police with heavy purses. A newsstand on the corner was set on fire.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The Compton’s Cafeteria riot didn’t lead to the changes that Stonewall would a few years later, but it stands as the first known example of collective militant queer resistance to police harassment in U.S. history. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It is worth noting that these trailblazers existed and that they were real heroes and really brave and they were trans women and drag performers who were fighting police on the streets of the Tenderloin.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[Start 1960s era music]\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Drag expression was undergoing a huge change during this era as well. In the late 1960s, The Cockettes burst onto the scene. They were as counter-culture as you could get and were some of the first to break the traditional “cis man dressed as a woman” mold for drag.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>Peaches Christ: \u003c/b>I guess you could say they were hippies; they would put glitter in their beards, and they lived together like a commune.\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> They were an inclusive drag troupe that included straight people, cis women, men, trans women… \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The Cockettes became notorious for these wild midnight movies at the Palace Theater in North Beach, where drag performers would sing and dance in the aisles during films from greats like John Waters.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> They were fueled by glitter and drugs and lots and lots of talent.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[start “Mighty Real” by Sylvester]\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale: Divine — the controversial and influential drag queen from some of those John Waters movies — has performed with the Cockettes, and at one point, San Francisco recording artist and LGBTQ pioneer Sylvester was a Cockette.\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[End music]\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The Cockettes became so popular, so fast, that the group began to splinter into cliques and eventually fell apart, though some members still perform today. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Cockettes over the top, irreverent, no-holds-barred style of drag would help inspire generations of queens to push the envelope.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[Somber music starts]\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cb>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sister Roma:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Around 1982, HIV AIDS started to ravage the community. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> That is philanthropist, drag queen and member of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Sister Roma.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sister Roma:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It was scary. Nobody knew what it was. All people knew is that gay men, mostly, were getting sick and dying. I remember checking my tongue for white spots and feeling my lymph nodes. It was like AIDS hysteria. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Americans began seeing TV reports like this one demonizing the LGBTQ community.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Archival Tape: …\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The lifestyle of some male homosexuals has triggered an epidemic and a rare form of cancer. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>Christopher Beale: \u003c/b>In 1987, Roma was looking for a way to help when she discovered and quickly joined this fairly new ragtag order of drag queen nuns called the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">They’d been founded on Easter Sunday in 1979. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Two of those early sisters were medical professionals, and as soon as HIV and AIDS was discovered to be sexually transmitted, the Sisters sprang into action. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sister Roma:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> We went out almost every night, went through all the bars, getting condoms into hands, getting condoms into people’s minds, into their forefront. Because we wanted to protect people and to save lives.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> They created the first safer sex pamphlet known to feature sex-positive language, practical advice, and most importantly, humor. When they weren’t doing safer sex outreach in the clubs, the Sisters were…if you’ll pardon the pun…raising hell in the streets.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sister Roma:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Raising picket signs and bullhorns just to get people to even acknowledge that we were dying, that we needed help. Because there was a real consensus among some people that HIV AIDS wasn’t an issue because it was killing all the right people. It was intravenous drug users, prostitutes, and faggots. Who cares, right? \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> There was a time when about a third of San Francisco’s 60,000+ gay men were dying of AIDS, and the Sisters became beacons of hope for the community.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">As AIDS became less prevalent, the Sisters ranks continued to fill with people who wanted to give back, and the Sisters have continued to grow in influence and visibility.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sister Roma:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Today we’re talking about a worldwide organization with probably a thousand members.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Easter in the Park with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is an annual tradition that attracts thousands from all over to Dolores Park. It’s a big, boisterous celebration that’s become quintessentially San Franciscan.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[Music transition]\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> In the mid-90s, after the horror of AIDS began to wane, the LGBTQ+ community in San Francisco galvanized and began to go out like never before. Bars, clubs, and parties were packed as the community collectively blew off steam. In 1996, a drag queen named Heklina started a legendary SoMa party that put the spotlight on San Francisco’s unique blend of drag.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Heklina performance clip: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Many stars have been born on this stage. This very very special stage. I would kiss this stage right now if it wasn’t covered with blood and shit.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Heklina in many ways was the truest embodiment of Punk rock to drag, \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Heklina’s show was called Tranny Shack.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> She created it. And proceeded to produce a different show every week at midnight, on a Tuesday, with packed houses for 13 years.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Heklina performance clip: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">I have wigs older than you are.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Back when the show was launched, Heklina chose the word “tranny” with an eye toward inclusivity. It was a slur, yes, but like a lot of slurs, it came to be reclaimed/adopted by the group it aimed to harm.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> An irreverent and endearing way to refer to people who fell outside of the gender norm. Tranny back then referred to drag queens. Trans people. Transvestites, cross-dressers. And it referred to every little nuance in between because between all those things, there’s a lot of gray area, and between those things, there’s overlap. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> And what Tranny Shack was, was a place where all these people could go, and did go, and be accepted and party and to have fun and it was wild. It was artistic. It was crazy. It was outrageous. It was drug and alcohol-fueled, and it was pure.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Over the next two decades, Peaches saw Heklina become a community leader, always helping to raise money for causes big and small, which was sort of the opposite of her on-stage persona.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> She presented herself in many ways as an unapologetically greedy bitch. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> But that was just a persona, Heklina loved to help people.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> She was uncomfortable getting the credit for it.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> When Heklina suddenly passed away in 2023, the city’s queer community came out by the thousands as if to honor a fallen hero.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Clip from Heklina’s funeral: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">So the event is simply, Heklina a memories.\u003c/span> \u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">She would have hated this. Yes, yes, she would.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The reason thousands of people showed up for her memorial… it wasn’t just because she was a funny entertainer. Yes, that’s true. But people showed up in San Francisco because she had created community for them. She was a secret nice person.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[Music starts]\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Drag is not just about entertainment. Drag is also community work.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Next, I want to introduce you to a not-so-secret nice person. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Persia or Persia. Either one works. Trust me. I’ve been called way worse.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> A few years back Persia was performing in drag at night, but during the day…\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> I was working at a children’s afterschool arts program here in San Francisco, so I was leading a double life. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> She was approached by a group planning to organize Drag Story Hour…where a drag queen reads a book to kids. The idea is representation, for children to have glamorous, positive, and queer role models and to feel free to play with their own gender expression. This was a new concept, but it hit Per Sia in the heartstrings. So, in December 2015… \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Drag Story Hour started here in San Francisco. And I was the first performer to be part of that. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> This was sort of a meeting of two worlds for Persia.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> I was really nervous because up until that point, I kept everything separate.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> But she got up in front of a room of kids, and she read to them.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia reading to kids: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Again, my name is Per Sia. And I’m a drag queen. Welcome to Drag Story Hour.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> I just remember just being so, so nervous. I had students of mine with their families come in. And at that moment, everything really hit. I was merging my lives together, \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale in scene:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Do you remember what book you read? \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> I read something unicorn. And then. A bear book. I don’t know. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale in scene:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Unicorns and bears. That’s the takeaway. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Ha ha ha. Gay. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Afterwards, there was this feeling of calmness. And I had never experienced so much joy. And I’m not going to cry, but it was feeling like all my identities are in one place. And that’s how it felt when I left. And I was just like, oh, like. It’s like, damn I did that. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Little kids have the vocabulary to really identify what’s really going on inside, and that is so special to me.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">And to know that now there’s 20-something chapters around the world, and that I was the first one, and that it started here in San Francisco. I’m just over the moon to just think that I am part of that history. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Drag Story Hour has received quite a bit of press attention, and conservative groups have targeted them, even showing up at places where queens are reading to children.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale in scene:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Does that make you afraid when you go to these libraries or schools? \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Yes. But I still push forward. Because I love what I do and if I don’t do that, then what am I going to do? I am already depressed, and anxiety is off the roof. Like, and if I don’t do what I like, then. I’m just going to go back in that hole, you know.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[Music starts]\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Peaches Christ says the hate drag performers have received is simply a response to progress.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> We as a community, have existed for many years behind closed doors, performing at night in nightclubs for queer people. We’ve progressed to the point where these families and these people that are so fear-based don’t like seeing us on their televisions. They don’t like seeing us on their kids’ computers or on their social media. They don’t want us in their libraries. They don’t want us in their schools. They don’t want us at their symphony halls. They don’t want us at their baseball stadiums.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sister Roma:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It’s important to realize that this is just the tip of the iceberg. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Sister Roma again.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sister Roma:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> You can’t take away pride flags and you can’t say don’t say gay. Like we have always been here. Trans people, queer people have always, always been here. And we will always. Always be here. They don’t know who they’re picking a fight with. We have overcome much bigger battles we fought a plague. We showed the world how to, who react with compassion in the face of pandemic that was killing our community, we rose up and showed the world how to respond. We got this.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> To people like Per Sia, Sister Roma, and Peaches Christ, San Francisco history and drag HERstory are inseparably intertwined. It’s hard to imagine The City without drag queens.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It’d be like taking the city and turning it black and white. San Francisco is full of color and fabulousness and by removing drag from it and all of its variations, I think you’d really mute what makes it special. This city is run by drag. It’s a drag oasis.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Almost 100 years have gone by since those first queens graced the stage in San Francisco. The city – and the world! – have been shaped by those that came after.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sister Roma:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> We have a transgender cultural district, a leather cultural district, the Castro cultural district. We have a drag laureate, Darcy Drollinger. So many great queer trans drag leaders and so much to be proud of here in San Francisco. And this does remain a beacon of hope to our queer community worldwide.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">That was Bay Curious reporter and sound engineer Christopher Beale. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> GAY! \u003c/span>\u003cb>*laugh & fade*\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> At the end of every Bay Curious episode, you may have noticed we always say …\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Voice over:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Bay Curious is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED.\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cbr>\n\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cbr>\n\u003c/span>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">To us, \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">member-supported\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is the operative phrase there. We are so proud that Bay Curious is available for free to everyone, but it does cost money to make.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sixty percent of our budget comes from listeners. Many give $5, $10, $20 a month … and it adds up! If you’ve thought in the past, “Oh gosh, I really should donate” but haven’t gotten around to it (I’ve been there). This is your sign to make good on those thoughts. Don’t delay. Grab your phone and navigate to \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"http://donate.kqed.org/podcasts\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">donate.kqed.org/podcasts\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> … within minutes you’ll be done and feeling good about supporting shows like Bay Curious. Thanks!\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bay Curious is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED. Our show is produced by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, and me, Olivia-Allen Price. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Cesar Saldana, Maha Sanad, Holly Kernan and the whole KQED Family.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">I’m Olivia Allen-Price. Have a fabulous week!\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">\u003ci>View the full episode transcript.\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Drag as an art form dates back centuries, but as shows like MTV’s RuPaul’s Drag Race have grown a worldwide following, drag has become more visible than ever. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003caside class=\"alignleft utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__bayCuriousPodcastShortcode__bayCurious\">\u003cimg src=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/bayCuriousLogo.png alt=\"Bay Curious Podcast\" loading=\"lazy\" />\n \u003ca href=\"/news/series/baycurious\">Bay Curious\u003c/a> is a podcast that answers your questions about the Bay Area.\n Subscribe on \u003ca href=\"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bay-curious/id1172473406\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Apple Podcasts\u003c/a>,\n \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/podcasts/500557090/bay-curious\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NPR One\u003c/a> or your favorite podcast platform.\u003c/aside>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The show’s namesake and host, RuPaul, arguably the most famous drag queen in the world, is now the most decorated television host in Emmy history. Not Johnny Carson, not Barbara Walters … RuPaul.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But there is also a heated debate coursing through statehouses and on some media programs about whether or not drag queens are appropriate entertainment for adults and children alike. Florida, Montana, Tennessee and Texas all have laws that, though unenforceable due to a federal court order, would ban drag performances.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In San Francisco, this debate over drag is long settled.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Drag is as crucial to the identity of this city as the cable car,” said Peaches Christ, a San Francisco drag performer, director and provocateur for the last three decades. “Straight people have wigs in this town!” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Drag has been breaking ground and creating a community for San Franciscans for almost a century.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>But how did it get that way?\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Drag has been an active part of the entertainment scene in San Francisco since the 1930s.\u003cbr>\n\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Early drag in San Francisco was presented in a way that was safe for straight audiences,” Christ said. “It traditionally has meant a cis man who dons women’s clothes, for entertainment purposes, usually pretty fabulous and flamboyant.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Finocchio’s Club was an institution for 60 years in the North Beach neighborhood and featured “female illusion.” This was light-hearted fun. None of the heavy stuff and definitely no politics. But that was about to shift.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11980250\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 600px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11980250\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/Medium-sized-JPEG.jpg\" alt=\"A black and white photo featuring eight drag queens posing on a multi-tiered stage, wearing gowns.\" width=\"600\" height=\"489\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/Medium-sized-JPEG.jpg 600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/Medium-sized-JPEG-160x130.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Finocchio’s nightclub was known for its “female impersonators” who entertained patrons nightly. This 1958 photo shows the cast of the floor show. \u003ccite>(San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>Her Royal Majesty, Empress of San Francisco, José I, The Widow Norton\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">At The Black Cat Club, another North Beach hot spot, Jose Sarria was a cocktail waiter turned drag queen who sang operatic arias. During Sarria’s performances, she started to encourage patrons to stop living double lives and to come out of the closet. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 1961, Sarria ran for a San Francisco Board of Supervisors seat. He lost, but his campaign was an early demonstration of the power of the gay voting bloc that would eventually elect Harvey Milk.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11980181\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1493px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11980181\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1322409068.jpg\" alt=\"A person wearing a white full body leotard and a pink tutu and white angel wings and a crown. They are gesturing toward the camera, as if to take flight.\" width=\"1493\" height=\"991\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1322409068.jpg 1493w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1322409068-800x531.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1322409068-1020x677.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1322409068-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1493px) 100vw, 1493px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jose Sarria, a.k.a. The Widow Norton, dances as the Sugar Plum Fairy during the Dance-Along Nutcracker in 2006. \u003ccite>(LEA SUZUKI/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">After the political defeat, Sarria would proclaim himself “Her Royal Majesty, Empress of San Francisco, José I, The Widow Norton,” and create the Imperial Court. That network of LGBTQ charities is still in operation today and holds a visible presence in San Francisco.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>Compton’s Cafeteria Riot\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the Tenderloin, at Taylor and Turk Streets, a 24-hour diner called Compton’s Cafeteria was a generally safe spot for the neighborhood’s queer, gender non-conforming, drag, trans and sex-worker population.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Female impersonation” was illegal in the sixties, and police regularly harassed people who appeared to be in violation.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In August 1966, diner staff called the police one night and reported that the patrons had become rowdy. Though police records from the time no longer exist, an officer reportedly grabbed a trans woman to arrest her and she responded by throwing a cup of coffee in his face.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“It broke out into a rebellion that took to the streets,” Christ said, “and it’s worth noting that these trailblazers existed. They were trans women and drag performers who were fighting police on the streets of the Tenderloin.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot didn’t result in the widespread change that Stonewall would a few years later but it is the first known act of widespread resistance to police harassment in U.S. history.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>The Cockettes\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the sixties a counter-culture drag troupe called the Cockettes was breaking down walls in drag expression.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“They were hippies. They would put glitter in their beards, and they lived together like a commune,” Christ said. “They were an inclusive drag troupe that included straight people, cis women, men, trans women.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11980176\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11980176\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-603956872.jpg\" alt=\"Four performers in exaggereateid costumes on stage.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1324\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-603956872.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-603956872-800x552.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-603956872-1020x703.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-603956872-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-603956872-1536x1059.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Cockettes perform Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma in New York in July 1971. \u003ccite>(Jack Mitchell/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Cockettes are remembered for their outlandish parties at the Palace Theatre in North Beach and for their gender-bending expression of drag that pushed the boundaries beyond the usual ‘cis man in a dress’ drag formula.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“The Cockettes were fueled by glitter and drugs and lots and lots of talent,” added Christ. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It’s worth noting that LGBTQ recording artist and San Francisco disco legend Sylvester, best known for the song \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3vtOEiO6TY\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, was once a Cockette. The larger group would fizzle out almost as quickly as they began, but some members still perform today.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>The Ministry of the Sisters\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">During the 80s and early 90s, AIDS wreaked havoc on the city’s gay population. A ragtag group of charitable drag queen nuns sprang into action to try to save lives and became de facto spiritual leaders in the wake of the loss, fear and uncertainty.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“It was scary. Nobody knew what it was. All people knew was that gay men were getting sick and dying,” Sister Roma said. She joined the Sisters in 1987 in the midst of what she called AIDS hysteria. “I remember checking my tongue for white spots and feeling my lymph nodes.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Roma and the Sisters created and distributed a safer-sex pamphlet, Play Fair!, believed to be the first to use sex-positive language and humor, to the LGBTQ community, along with boatloads of condoms.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“We went out almost every night, through all the bars, getting condoms into hands, getting condoms into people’s minds,” Roma said, “Because we wanted to protect people and to save lives.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When they weren’t educating the community, the Sisters fought for the visibility of the AIDS crisis at a time when the federal government wouldn’t acknowledge the problem.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“There was a real consensus among some people that HIV/AIDS wasn’t an issue because it was killing all the right people,” Roma said. “It was intravenous drug users, prostitutes and faggots. Who cares, right?”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">As medications began to move HIV from a death sentence to a manageable disease, the Sisters’ ranks continued to swell with community activists and philanthropists simply delighted to play with their gender expression in interesting ways.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11980178\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11980178\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/118798286_3373916526051177_8781469385850932712_n.jpg\" alt='Seven \"sisters\" in their drag nun attire stand in front of Dolores Park in San Francisco. Near them is a sign that says \"wear a mask.\" They are all wearing masks as well.' width=\"1920\" height=\"1281\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/118798286_3373916526051177_8781469385850932712_n.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/118798286_3373916526051177_8781469385850932712_n-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/118798286_3373916526051177_8781469385850932712_n-1020x681.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/118798286_3373916526051177_8781469385850932712_n-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/118798286_3373916526051177_8781469385850932712_n-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence showed up to spread best practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, just as they did at the start of the AIDS crisis. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Sister Roma)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Sisters are now a worldwide organization but are just as active in San Francisco as ever. You can find the Sisters at community events, pride festivals, marches and they host the massive Easter in the Park featuring the Hunky Jesus and Foxy Mary contests. That event attracts tens of thousands of all ages and orientations to Dolores Park each Easter and has for 45 years.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>The Early Aughts\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the late nineties and early 2000s, the drag scene in San Francisco was getting edgier. A gritty show called “Trannyshack” was packing The Stud, a tiny bar in SoMa, on Tuesday nights for a wild party that completely broke the rules of drag.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Trannyshack was wild,” said Christ, who got her start in San Francisco drag at Trannyshack, “it was artistic, it was crazy, it was outrageous, it was drug and alcohol-fueled, and it was pure.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“[The word ‘tranny’ was] an irreverent and endearing way to refer to people who fell outside of the gender norm. It referred to drag queens, trans people, transvestites, cross-dressers, and it referred to every little nuance in between,” Christ said. “Trannyshack, a place where all these people could go and be accepted and party and to have fun.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Over the next two decades the host of Trannyshack, drag queen Heklina, became a beloved figure in San Francisco’s LGBTQ community despite her abrasive on-stage persona.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11980189\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11980189\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1157521655.jpg\" alt=\"A drag queen wears a orange-peach sequined gown. They are standing in front of a red curtain, speaking into a microphone. They have a big blonde wig, and lots of jewelry. \" width=\"1920\" height=\"1278\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1157521655.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1157521655-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1157521655-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1157521655-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1157521655-1536x1022.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Heklina performs onstage at the Roast Battle at the 2019 Clusterfest. Her on-stage persona had edge, but behind the scenes, Heklina was a kind person interested in charitable work. \u003ccite>(Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for Clusterfest)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Heklina presented herself in many ways as an unapologetically greedy bitch,” joked Christ, adding that though Heklina was always helping the community behind the scenes, “she was uncomfortable getting the credit for it. She was a secret nice person.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">When Heklina passed away suddenly in April of 2023 the San Francisco LGBTQ community organized a large memorial service that shut down the Castro for hours. The community came out by the thousands to mourn.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“The reason thousands of people showed up for her memorial wasn’t just because she was a funny entertainer,” Christ said, though she acknowledged that Heklina was hilarious, “People showed up in San Francisco because she had created community for them.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>Drag Story Hour\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 2015, the first drag performer for Drag Story Hour was Per Sia, who said she was leading a double life.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I was working at a children’s afterschool arts program during the day and performing in drag at night,” she said. When she was contacted to host the first Drag Story Hour, she said yes but had reservations. ” Up until that point, I kept everything separate.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The idea behind Drag Story Hour is a representation for children to have glamorous, positive and queer role models and to feel free to play with their own gender expression. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">After the first Drag Story Hour, Per Sia knew she’d done the right thing.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“There was this feeling of calmness,” she said, “all of my identities were in one place.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11980192\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 960px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11980192\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/image2.jpeg\" alt=\"A drag queen stands, gesturing dramatically while reading from a book. A handful of children sit by her feet.\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/image2.jpeg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/image2-800x600.jpeg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/image2-160x120.jpeg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Per Sia began reading to children at the first ever Drag Queen Story Hour in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Per Sia)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some conservative groups have criticized Drag Story Hour, but that doesn’t slow the organization or Per Sia down.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“I still push forward because I love what I do,” Per Sia said, admitting that the threats from conservative groups have been scary. But she said it’s all worth it because she is setting an example for the children.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Little kids have the vocabulary to really identify what’s really going on inside, and that is so special to me,” Per Sia said with pride, “and it’s like, ‘I did that!’”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“There are now 20-something chapters of Drag Story Hour around the world,” Per Sia said, beaming, “I’m just over the moon to think that I am a part of that history.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>Defending Drag\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">As drag becomes more visible and harder to ignore, mainstream society is beginning to wrestle with the issue. By contrast, the San Francisco we know has been forged by drag.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“We have a transgender cultural district, a leather cultural district, the Castro cultural district. We have a drag laureate, ” proclaimed Sister Roma, “San Francisco does remain the beacon of hope to our queer community worldwide.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“To remove drag would be like taking the city and turning it black and white,” Peaches Christ said. “San Francisco is full of color and fabulousness and by removing drag from it and all of its variations, I think you’d really mute what makes it special. This city is run by drag.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">From North Beach to the Tenderloin, the Castro to SoMa, San Francisco history and drag \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">herstory\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> follow the same path, and often it’s those high-heeled footprints in the lead.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-content post-body\">\u003ch2 id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> In the past decade, drag has become a centerpiece of American pop culture.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[Start Ru Paul’s Drag Race theme music]\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Maybe you’ve seen RuPaul’s Drag Race on MTV. The show and its host have won armfuls of Emmy awards. And RuPaul is widely regarded as the most famous drag queen in the world. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>RuPaul’s Drag Race clip: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The time has come for you to lip sync for your LIFE!\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Then there’s the drag brunches, drag bingo — and more recently, the Drag Story Hour — that have become ubiquitous in many cities.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But growing attention has also led to growing disdain.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>News clip: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It has everything to do with this being inappropriate.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Whether it’s love or hate on the national stage, drag is a hot topic of conversation. And you really can’t understand how we got to this point nationally without heading to San Francisco.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Drag in San Francisco is as crucial to the identity of this city as the cable car. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> We thought it was high-heel time to take a closer look at drag culture in San Francisco. Today, we’re taking a crash course through decades of Drag Herstory to better understand its larger impact on San Francisco and the country.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Straight people have wigs in this town.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia-Allen Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">A note: There is some potentially offensive language in this episode.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">I’m Olivia Allen-Price. Stick around for Bay Curious.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[Sponsor Message]\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> On any given night in San Francisco you can step into any number of bars in the city and find a drag queen at the center of the action. Like Betty Fresas at Midnight Sun on Thursday nights. She cracks jokes, lip-syncs, celebrates birthdays with shots … and light humiliation. It’s a blast! \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But in San Francisco, our queens do so much more than entertaining bar patrons. They serve their communities through fundraising, political activism and even by holding public office.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">KQED’s Christopher Beale spoke with three of San Francisco’s drag icons, starting with Peaches Christ.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> What is a drag queen? \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> A drag queen is someone who likes to use fabulous costumes and exaggerated performance to entertain people. And a drag queen, traditionally, has meant a cis man who dons women’s clothes for entertainment purposes, usually pretty fabulous and flamboyant. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> There are examples of what we might call drag today dating back centuries. The first time it was actually \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">called, that\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is believed to have happened around 1870. In the time since drag queens have evolved from underground entertainment to queer community leaders to international megastars. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> We’re kind of queer preachers in a way. We create fellowship, we create community, we make people laugh, we make people feel good about themselves, and when the shit hits the fan and stuff needs to be done, you often see it’s drag queens who are community organizers and the ones mobilizing to take care of a need. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> In San Francisco, drag dates back to at least the 1930s, but this \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">isn’t\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> a comprehensive history. The scene is too vibrant, and it could take hours — and many, many costume changes — so what I want to do is hit on a few key moments when drag culture left big impacts on San Francisco.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Early drag in San Francisco, it was an art form that actually wasn’t seen as that queer because they sort of presented it in a way that was safe for straight audiences. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Remember the opening scene of the Robin Williams movie \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Birdcage\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">? Think of a straight nightclub featuring female illusion.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>Peaches Christ: \u003c/b>In San Francisco, the longest-running nightclub that featured drag was called Finocchio’s over in North Beach.\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> And it was around for decades \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> From the mid-30s to the late 90s, these clubs in North Beach would feature drag queens lip-syncing pop songs and making jokes for largely straight audiences. This was light-hearted fun. None of the heavy stuff, and definitely no politics. But that was about to shift.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> And when that shift happened is when San Francisco really became different, and sort of special and unlike other drag communities. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> This drag queen named Jose Sarria started making noise about gay rights from the stage at another North Beach hotspot called, The Black Cat Club, encouraging people to stop living double lives.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sarria would grow his influence and go on to become the first openly gay candidate for public office in the United States in 1961, when he ran for a board of supervisor’s seat. He didn’t win, but he did reveal the power of the gay voting bloc in San Francisco and helped forge a path for Harvey Milk to be elected almost 20 years later. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jose Sarria didn’t take the electoral loss lying down, he continued his community work in drag and went on to inspire the creation of the Imperial Court system, an international network of charities still in operation today.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> A few years later, in 1966, drag performers were part of a pivotal moment in San Francisco and LGBTQ history. The night the Tenderloin became a tinder box of activity.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Compton’s Cafeteria was a late-night dining spot. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> A clean, safe, well-lit 24-hour diner in the Tenderloin. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Trans folks, drag performers, sex workers, the community could go there, this was a known place for people to gather.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> “Female impersonation” was still a crime in the 60s and the police regularly harassed people outside the gender binary. Even in the relative safety of the Tenderloin, which was then seen as a gay neighborhood, queer people were never truly safe. And on one hot August night, workers at the cafeteria called the police to deal with what they deemed rambunctious diners. Police records from the time don’t exist anymore, but a police officer is said to have grabbed a trans woman to arrest her.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> And the community fought back. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> She responded by throwing a cup of coffee in his face. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It broke out into a rebellion that took to the streets. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Sugar shakers were thrown through the restaurant windows and drag queens were seen beating police with heavy purses. A newsstand on the corner was set on fire.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The Compton’s Cafeteria riot didn’t lead to the changes that Stonewall would a few years later, but it stands as the first known example of collective militant queer resistance to police harassment in U.S. history. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It is worth noting that these trailblazers existed and that they were real heroes and really brave and they were trans women and drag performers who were fighting police on the streets of the Tenderloin.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[Start 1960s era music]\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Drag expression was undergoing a huge change during this era as well. In the late 1960s, The Cockettes burst onto the scene. They were as counter-culture as you could get and were some of the first to break the traditional “cis man dressed as a woman” mold for drag.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>Peaches Christ: \u003c/b>I guess you could say they were hippies; they would put glitter in their beards, and they lived together like a commune.\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> They were an inclusive drag troupe that included straight people, cis women, men, trans women… \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The Cockettes became notorious for these wild midnight movies at the Palace Theater in North Beach, where drag performers would sing and dance in the aisles during films from greats like John Waters.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> They were fueled by glitter and drugs and lots and lots of talent.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[start “Mighty Real” by Sylvester]\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale: Divine — the controversial and influential drag queen from some of those John Waters movies — has performed with the Cockettes, and at one point, San Francisco recording artist and LGBTQ pioneer Sylvester was a Cockette.\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[End music]\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The Cockettes became so popular, so fast, that the group began to splinter into cliques and eventually fell apart, though some members still perform today. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Cockettes over the top, irreverent, no-holds-barred style of drag would help inspire generations of queens to push the envelope.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[Somber music starts]\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cb>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sister Roma:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Around 1982, HIV AIDS started to ravage the community. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> That is philanthropist, drag queen and member of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Sister Roma.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sister Roma:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It was scary. Nobody knew what it was. All people knew is that gay men, mostly, were getting sick and dying. I remember checking my tongue for white spots and feeling my lymph nodes. It was like AIDS hysteria. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Americans began seeing TV reports like this one demonizing the LGBTQ community.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Archival Tape: …\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The lifestyle of some male homosexuals has triggered an epidemic and a rare form of cancer. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>Christopher Beale: \u003c/b>In 1987, Roma was looking for a way to help when she discovered and quickly joined this fairly new ragtag order of drag queen nuns called the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">They’d been founded on Easter Sunday in 1979. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Two of those early sisters were medical professionals, and as soon as HIV and AIDS was discovered to be sexually transmitted, the Sisters sprang into action. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sister Roma:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> We went out almost every night, went through all the bars, getting condoms into hands, getting condoms into people’s minds, into their forefront. Because we wanted to protect people and to save lives.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> They created the first safer sex pamphlet known to feature sex-positive language, practical advice, and most importantly, humor. When they weren’t doing safer sex outreach in the clubs, the Sisters were…if you’ll pardon the pun…raising hell in the streets.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sister Roma:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Raising picket signs and bullhorns just to get people to even acknowledge that we were dying, that we needed help. Because there was a real consensus among some people that HIV AIDS wasn’t an issue because it was killing all the right people. It was intravenous drug users, prostitutes, and faggots. Who cares, right? \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> There was a time when about a third of San Francisco’s 60,000+ gay men were dying of AIDS, and the Sisters became beacons of hope for the community.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">As AIDS became less prevalent, the Sisters ranks continued to fill with people who wanted to give back, and the Sisters have continued to grow in influence and visibility.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sister Roma:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Today we’re talking about a worldwide organization with probably a thousand members.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Easter in the Park with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is an annual tradition that attracts thousands from all over to Dolores Park. It’s a big, boisterous celebration that’s become quintessentially San Franciscan.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[Music transition]\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> In the mid-90s, after the horror of AIDS began to wane, the LGBTQ+ community in San Francisco galvanized and began to go out like never before. Bars, clubs, and parties were packed as the community collectively blew off steam. In 1996, a drag queen named Heklina started a legendary SoMa party that put the spotlight on San Francisco’s unique blend of drag.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Heklina performance clip: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Many stars have been born on this stage. This very very special stage. I would kiss this stage right now if it wasn’t covered with blood and shit.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Heklina in many ways was the truest embodiment of Punk rock to drag, \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Heklina’s show was called Tranny Shack.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> She created it. And proceeded to produce a different show every week at midnight, on a Tuesday, with packed houses for 13 years.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Heklina performance clip: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">I have wigs older than you are.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Back when the show was launched, Heklina chose the word “tranny” with an eye toward inclusivity. It was a slur, yes, but like a lot of slurs, it came to be reclaimed/adopted by the group it aimed to harm.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> An irreverent and endearing way to refer to people who fell outside of the gender norm. Tranny back then referred to drag queens. Trans people. Transvestites, cross-dressers. And it referred to every little nuance in between because between all those things, there’s a lot of gray area, and between those things, there’s overlap. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> And what Tranny Shack was, was a place where all these people could go, and did go, and be accepted and party and to have fun and it was wild. It was artistic. It was crazy. It was outrageous. It was drug and alcohol-fueled, and it was pure.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Over the next two decades, Peaches saw Heklina become a community leader, always helping to raise money for causes big and small, which was sort of the opposite of her on-stage persona.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> She presented herself in many ways as an unapologetically greedy bitch. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> But that was just a persona, Heklina loved to help people.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> She was uncomfortable getting the credit for it.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> When Heklina suddenly passed away in 2023, the city’s queer community came out by the thousands as if to honor a fallen hero.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Clip from Heklina’s funeral: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">So the event is simply, Heklina a memories.\u003c/span> \u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">She would have hated this. Yes, yes, she would.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The reason thousands of people showed up for her memorial… it wasn’t just because she was a funny entertainer. Yes, that’s true. But people showed up in San Francisco because she had created community for them. She was a secret nice person.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[Music starts]\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Drag is not just about entertainment. Drag is also community work.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Next, I want to introduce you to a not-so-secret nice person. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Persia or Persia. Either one works. Trust me. I’ve been called way worse.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> A few years back Persia was performing in drag at night, but during the day…\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> I was working at a children’s afterschool arts program here in San Francisco, so I was leading a double life. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> She was approached by a group planning to organize Drag Story Hour…where a drag queen reads a book to kids. The idea is representation, for children to have glamorous, positive, and queer role models and to feel free to play with their own gender expression. This was a new concept, but it hit Per Sia in the heartstrings. So, in December 2015… \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Drag Story Hour started here in San Francisco. And I was the first performer to be part of that. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> This was sort of a meeting of two worlds for Persia.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> I was really nervous because up until that point, I kept everything separate.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> But she got up in front of a room of kids, and she read to them.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia reading to kids: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Again, my name is Per Sia. And I’m a drag queen. Welcome to Drag Story Hour.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> I just remember just being so, so nervous. I had students of mine with their families come in. And at that moment, everything really hit. I was merging my lives together, \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale in scene:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Do you remember what book you read? \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> I read something unicorn. And then. A bear book. I don’t know. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale in scene:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Unicorns and bears. That’s the takeaway. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Ha ha ha. Gay. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Afterwards, there was this feeling of calmness. And I had never experienced so much joy. And I’m not going to cry, but it was feeling like all my identities are in one place. And that’s how it felt when I left. And I was just like, oh, like. It’s like, damn I did that. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Little kids have the vocabulary to really identify what’s really going on inside, and that is so special to me.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">And to know that now there’s 20-something chapters around the world, and that I was the first one, and that it started here in San Francisco. I’m just over the moon to just think that I am part of that history. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Drag Story Hour has received quite a bit of press attention, and conservative groups have targeted them, even showing up at places where queens are reading to children.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale in scene:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Does that make you afraid when you go to these libraries or schools? \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Yes. But I still push forward. Because I love what I do and if I don’t do that, then what am I going to do? I am already depressed, and anxiety is off the roof. Like, and if I don’t do what I like, then. I’m just going to go back in that hole, you know.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[Music starts]\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Peaches Christ says the hate drag performers have received is simply a response to progress.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> We as a community, have existed for many years behind closed doors, performing at night in nightclubs for queer people. We’ve progressed to the point where these families and these people that are so fear-based don’t like seeing us on their televisions. They don’t like seeing us on their kids’ computers or on their social media. They don’t want us in their libraries. They don’t want us in their schools. They don’t want us at their symphony halls. They don’t want us at their baseball stadiums.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sister Roma:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It’s important to realize that this is just the tip of the iceberg. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Sister Roma again.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sister Roma:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> You can’t take away pride flags and you can’t say don’t say gay. Like we have always been here. Trans people, queer people have always, always been here. And we will always. Always be here. They don’t know who they’re picking a fight with. We have overcome much bigger battles we fought a plague. We showed the world how to, who react with compassion in the face of pandemic that was killing our community, we rose up and showed the world how to respond. We got this.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Christopher Beale:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> To people like Per Sia, Sister Roma, and Peaches Christ, San Francisco history and drag HERstory are inseparably intertwined. It’s hard to imagine The City without drag queens.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Peaches Christ:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It’d be like taking the city and turning it black and white. San Francisco is full of color and fabulousness and by removing drag from it and all of its variations, I think you’d really mute what makes it special. This city is run by drag. It’s a drag oasis.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Almost 100 years have gone by since those first queens graced the stage in San Francisco. The city – and the world! – have been shaped by those that came after.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sister Roma:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> We have a transgender cultural district, a leather cultural district, the Castro cultural district. We have a drag laureate, Darcy Drollinger. So many great queer trans drag leaders and so much to be proud of here in San Francisco. And this does remain a beacon of hope to our queer community worldwide.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">That was Bay Curious reporter and sound engineer Christopher Beale. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Per Sia:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> GAY! \u003c/span>\u003cb>*laugh & fade*\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> At the end of every Bay Curious episode, you may have noticed we always say …\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Voice over:\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Bay Curious is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED.\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cbr>\n\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cbr>\n\u003c/span>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">To us, \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">member-supported\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is the operative phrase there. We are so proud that Bay Curious is available for free to everyone, but it does cost money to make.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sixty percent of our budget comes from listeners. Many give $5, $10, $20 a month … and it adds up! If you’ve thought in the past, “Oh gosh, I really should donate” but haven’t gotten around to it (I’ve been there). This is your sign to make good on those thoughts. Don’t delay. Grab your phone and navigate to \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"http://donate.kqed.org/podcasts\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">donate.kqed.org/podcasts\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> … within minutes you’ll be done and feeling good about supporting shows like Bay Curious. Thanks!\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bay Curious is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED. Our show is produced by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, and me, Olivia-Allen Price. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Cesar Saldana, Maha Sanad, Holly Kernan and the whole KQED Family.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">I’m Olivia Allen-Price. Have a fabulous week!\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>"
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"slug": "miss-universes-visit-fires-up-bay-area-nicaraguan-pride",
"title": "‘It Wasn’t Just a Beauty Pageant’: Why Miss Universe's Visit Electrified Bay Area Nicaraguans",
"publishDate": 1710885610,
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"headTitle": "‘It Wasn’t Just a Beauty Pageant’: Why Miss Universe’s Visit Electrified Bay Area Nicaraguans | KQED",
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},
"content": "\u003cp>For a few hours on a sunny March morning, one corner of San Francisco’s Mission District seemingly transformed into a place thousands of miles away — Nicaragua.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hundreds of people formed a line outside Nicaraguan restaurant Las Tinajas, many waving national flags. Men were dressed in their finest blue and white Nicaraguan baseball jerseys, and little girls wore flowers in their hair and carefully embroidered dresses with blue and white ruffles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11979930\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11979930\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-01-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"828\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-01-1.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-01-1-800x265.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-01-1-1020x338.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-01-1-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-01-1-1536x509.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-01-1-2048x678.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-01-1-1920x636.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: Gerardo Rivas is one of the first people waiting outside Las Tinajas restaurant in San Francisco, hoping to meet and have his photo taken with Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios on March 8, 2024. Right: Eliana Felipe (center) wears a traditional Nicaraguan dress while waiting to meet Sheynnis Palacios. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11978825\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11978825\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-03-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-03-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-03-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-03-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-03-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-03-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Eliana Felipe (center) wears a traditional Nicaraguan dress while waiting to meet Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios, the first-ever Nicaraguan to win the pageant. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>All were there to catch a glimpse of one person, someone who could easily claim the title of the most famous Nicaraguan in the world: 23-year-old Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Palacios, who in November became the first Nicaraguan to win the international beauty pageant in its 72-year history, kicked off her official tour of the United States at Las Tinajas. Wearing her Miss Universe sash, Palacios arrived to the sound of cheers so loud they drowned out the music that usually fills this stretch of Mission Street.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11978834\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11978834\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-13-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-13-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-13-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-13-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-13-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-13-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-13-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sheynnis Palacios greets fans upon her arrival at Las Tinajas restaurant. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11978833\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11978833\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-12-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-12-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-12-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-12-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-12-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-12-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-12-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">From behind the service counter, Yesss Vega Cardenas (center) and other Las Tinajas staff members celebrate and film Sheynnis Palacios’s arrival at the restaurant in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Palacios did not give any remarks and instead greeted her assembled fans, who entered the restaurant one by one to snatch a few moments — and a photo — with the beaming queen. Among them was Henrry Castro of South San Francisco, who shook with excitement as he waited his turn, holding a poster-sized photo of Palacios he’d had printed that morning. Though he only spoke to her for a brief moment, the experience affirmed his expectations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She’s an entrepreneurial woman with a humble heart, beautiful both inside and out,” he said in Spanish. “Everything that a Nicaraguan woman represents for us.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Palacios rose to fame as a beauty queen. But for her fans who gathered in San Francisco, she represents much more than the Miss Universe crown she wears — a reputation fueled not just by her life story but also her stance towards \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/nicaragua-united-nations-daniel-ortega-human-rights-822da5ffbb588dfe1deb3aceb9b45ff0\">the regime of Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11978829\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11978829\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-08-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-08-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-08-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-08-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-08-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-08-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-08-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Henrry Castro holds a large framed photo of Sheynnis Palacios, the winner of Miss Universe 2023, at the event with Palacios at Las Tinajas. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>From Managua to the Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Next to Miami, the Bay Area has \u003ca href=\"https://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Managua_North:_San_Francisco%27s_Solidarity_Movement\">one of the oldest and most established Nicaraguan communities in the country\u003c/a>. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2939747/\">armed conflicts of the ’70s and ’80s\u003c/a>, which saw significant U.S. involvement, brought thousands of Nicaraguans to San Francisco, where families quickly formed networks \u003ca href=\"https://eltecolote.org/content/en/nicoyas-in-bay-area-strategize-how-best-to-aid-nicaragua-through-political-crisis/\">to financially support each other and deliver clothing and food to folks still in Nicaragua\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over decades, these communities have grown very close-knit, forming groups like Chavalos De Aquí y Allá, which, along with Carnaval San Francisco, helped organize the Miss Universe visit. And Palacios’ own mother, Raquel Cornejo, has lived in San Francisco for years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11978835\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11978835\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-14-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-14-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-14-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-14-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-14-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-14-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-14-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">San Francisco Assessor-Recorder Joaquín Torres presents Sheynnis Palacios with a Certificate of Honor signed by Mayor London Breed at Las Tinajas restaurant in San Francisco on March 8, 2024. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In April 2018, \u003ca href=\"https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/7/17/nicaragua-unrest-what-you-should-know\">a series of protests erupted in Nicaragua against President Ortega\u003c/a>, a\u003ca href=\"https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/7/17/nicaragua-unrest-what-you-should-know\"> former Sandinista rebel fighter who had served three consecutive terms \u003c/a>since 2007. Tens of thousands of Nicaraguans took to the streets in favor of democratic reforms but were met with brutal — and deadly — repression from the government. In February of this year, during his fourth term, a panel from the international Human Rights Council accused the Ortega regime of \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/nicaragua-united-nations-daniel-ortega-human-rights-822da5ffbb588dfe1deb3aceb9b45ff0\">human rights abuses “tantamount to crimes against humanity.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When Palacios won the Miss Universe contest in 2023, \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/nicaragua-miss-universe-pageant-director-arrested-ortega-8d9691c3717b67ffd0f6041592f4fe49\">the Nicaraguan government initially celebrated her victory\u003c/a> as a point of national pride — until it emerged that Palacios had posted photos of herself participating in the 2018 protests to a now-deleted Facebook account.\u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/nicaragua-miss-universe-pageant-director-arrested-ortega-8d9691c3717b67ffd0f6041592f4fe49\"> Nicaraguan police then accused the director of the Miss Nicaragua pageant\u003c/a> of a conspiracy to favor anti-government contestants and arrested her family.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Aside from that Facebook posting, \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/03/nicaragua-miss-universe-daniel-ortega-sheynnis-palacios/\">Palacios has not made any public statements about Ortega\u003c/a>. But she swiftly became a symbol of resistance not just to people in Nicaragua but to the Bay Area diaspora, who in 2018 \u003ca href=\"https://eltecolote.org/content/en/nicoyas-in-bay-area-strategize-how-best-to-aid-nicaragua-through-political-crisis/\">organized several rallies and communal efforts\u003c/a> in solidarity with protesters in Nicaragua.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘We’ve never seen this before’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“I love that she stood up for herself and what she believes is right,” said Susana Sanchez-Young, an East Bay graphic designer who came to Palacios’ appearance in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11979923\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11979923\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-17-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-17-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-17-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-17-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-17-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-17-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-17-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Susana Sanchez-Young has her photo taken with Sheynnis Palacios at Las Tinajas. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>After Palacios won the Miss Nicaragua title last summer, more details of her life story emerged. Born in the country’s capital, Managua, and raised by her mother and grandmother on a limited income, Palacios started her own small business when she was in high school: selling buñuelos — sweet balls of fried dough — to pay her school fees and help support her family.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While some commentators in Nicaragua \u003ca href=\"https://observador.cr/miss-bunuelos-el-calificativo-que-le-dio-una-presentadora-de-nicaragua-a-la-nueva-miss-universo/\">have used this to ridicule Palacios\u003c/a>, for Sanchez-Young, it is only one more reason to root for Miss Universe. “The day that she won, I was so inspired,” Sanchez-Young said. “She’s nicaragüense, my culture. We’ve never seen this before.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11978843\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11978843\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-16-KQED-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-16-KQED-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-16-KQED-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-16-KQED-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-16-KQED-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-16-KQED-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-16-KQED-1-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans peer through the window of Las Tinajas restaurant to catch a glimpse of Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For Sanchez-Young, Palacios’ cultural status is such that she wants to see the new Miss Universe honored by another pop culture icon: Barbie.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the past few months, Sanchez-Young has collected signatures urging toy manufacturer Mattel to create a Miss Universe Barbie representing Palacios. \u003ca href=\"https://www.change.org/p/create-a-miss-universe-barbie-representing-miss-nicaragua\">Her petition has amassed over 6,000 signatures\u003c/a> and counting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As she heard Palacios’s acceptance speech on television, Sanchez-Young said, she began drawing the newly crowned queen, guided by the vision of the first Nicaraguan Barbie.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11978842\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11978842\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-15-KQED-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-15-KQED-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-15-KQED-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-15-KQED-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-15-KQED-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-15-KQED-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-15-KQED-1-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Eliana Felipe, 6, has her photo taken with Sheynnis Palacios at Las Tinajas. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We deserve Nicaraguan and Central American representation in the Barbie world — and they should start with her because she lit a fire under people,” Sanchez-Young said. “She lit up hearts all over Nicaragua, all over Central America, all over the world.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>‘The strength of a volcano’\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>News outlets across Central America\u003ca href=\"https://www.elsalvador.com/entretenimiento/espectaculos/sheynnis-palacios-miss-universo-2023-podria-correr-peligro-nicaragua-dictadura-ortega-destierro/1105083/2023/\"> report that the Ortega regime has now blocked Palacios from returning to Nicaragua\u003c/a>. Despite that pressure, she has not walked back from her involvement in the 2018 protests — one of the reasons Palacios has become a role model for Michelle Fonseca of San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Ortega is oppressing the people, but the fact that she won, it wasn’t just a beauty pageant,” Fonseca said outside Las Tinajas. “She represented a symbol of freedom for nicaragüenses. She brought joy because the people of Nicaragua are crying for freedom.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fonseca recently completed a master’s degree in social work, and her next goal is to get a job in the field, with a focus on mental health in Latino communities. This objective gained new meaning for her when she saw how Palacios has also used her platform to openly talk about her own mental health struggles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fonseca doesn’t want Palacios to stop speaking about issues close to her. “I’m rooting for her. I want her to continue to do what feels right in her mind and in her heart, and that’s exactly what she’s doing,” she said, adding, “La mujer nicaragüense is the strength of the volcano. That’s what we’re known for.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11978828\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11978828\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-07-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-07-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-07-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-07-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-07-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-07-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-07-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Michelle Fonseca wears a necklace resembling the Nicaraguan flag while waiting in line to meet Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11979928\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11979928\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-02.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"828\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-02.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-02-800x265.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-02-1020x338.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-02-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-02-1536x509.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-02-2048x678.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-02-1920x636.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: Michelle Fonseca waits in line to meet Sheynnis Palacios. Right: Michelle Fonseca speaks with Sheynnis Palacios at Las Tinajas. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But not all of Palacios’s admirers believe that it’s a smart move for the beauty queen to be politically vocal. “I think she should stay out of politics, at least for this year, because she’s representing everyone,” said Javier Solórzano, who has lived in San Francisco for 45 years since emigrating from Nicaragua.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite being far from Nicaragua, Solórzano has followed the actions of the Ortega government and is worried about what the regime could do. “I think for her own good and the sake of the [Miss Universe] organization, it’s best for her to stay out of politics,” he added. “But this is part of her. If she feels that way, that she needs to do that as a nicaragüense, she should.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11978830\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11978830\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-09-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-09-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-09-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-09-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-09-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-09-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-09-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rosargentina Herrera (left) and Lilian Berríos brought presents for Sheynnis Palacios to the event at Las Tinajas. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Lilliam Berríos left Nicaragua for San Francisco in 1967. In that time, she has seen both places go through radical transformations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Berríos said she has felt deep disappointment and heartbreak watching events in Nicaragua under Ortega. But, she said, she felt something different that morning outside of Las Tinajas: optimism.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I hope that one day Nicaragua changes,” Berríos said in Spanish. For her, hundreds of Nicaraguans gathering in one place to celebrate one of their own shows her everything that younger generations are capable of despite the repression of the Ortega regime.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Palacios’ crown is “the best thing that could have happened to Nicaragua,” Berríos said. “Because not only does it ennoble our country, it shows young people that anything is still possible, with effort, humility and hope.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "For many in the Nicaraguan diaspora, Sheynnis Palacios – who won the Miss Universe crown in November – has become a symbol of resistance against the country's government.",
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"title": "‘It Wasn’t Just a Beauty Pageant’: Why Miss Universe's Visit Electrified Bay Area Nicaraguans | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>For a few hours on a sunny March morning, one corner of San Francisco’s Mission District seemingly transformed into a place thousands of miles away — Nicaragua.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hundreds of people formed a line outside Nicaraguan restaurant Las Tinajas, many waving national flags. Men were dressed in their finest blue and white Nicaraguan baseball jerseys, and little girls wore flowers in their hair and carefully embroidered dresses with blue and white ruffles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11979930\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11979930\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-01-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"828\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-01-1.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-01-1-800x265.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-01-1-1020x338.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-01-1-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-01-1-1536x509.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-01-1-2048x678.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-01-1-1920x636.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: Gerardo Rivas is one of the first people waiting outside Las Tinajas restaurant in San Francisco, hoping to meet and have his photo taken with Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios on March 8, 2024. Right: Eliana Felipe (center) wears a traditional Nicaraguan dress while waiting to meet Sheynnis Palacios. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11978825\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11978825\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-03-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-03-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-03-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-03-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-03-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-03-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Eliana Felipe (center) wears a traditional Nicaraguan dress while waiting to meet Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios, the first-ever Nicaraguan to win the pageant. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>All were there to catch a glimpse of one person, someone who could easily claim the title of the most famous Nicaraguan in the world: 23-year-old Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Palacios, who in November became the first Nicaraguan to win the international beauty pageant in its 72-year history, kicked off her official tour of the United States at Las Tinajas. Wearing her Miss Universe sash, Palacios arrived to the sound of cheers so loud they drowned out the music that usually fills this stretch of Mission Street.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11978834\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11978834\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-13-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-13-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-13-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-13-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-13-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-13-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-13-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sheynnis Palacios greets fans upon her arrival at Las Tinajas restaurant. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11978833\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11978833\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-12-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-12-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-12-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-12-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-12-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-12-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-12-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">From behind the service counter, Yesss Vega Cardenas (center) and other Las Tinajas staff members celebrate and film Sheynnis Palacios’s arrival at the restaurant in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Palacios did not give any remarks and instead greeted her assembled fans, who entered the restaurant one by one to snatch a few moments — and a photo — with the beaming queen. Among them was Henrry Castro of South San Francisco, who shook with excitement as he waited his turn, holding a poster-sized photo of Palacios he’d had printed that morning. Though he only spoke to her for a brief moment, the experience affirmed his expectations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She’s an entrepreneurial woman with a humble heart, beautiful both inside and out,” he said in Spanish. “Everything that a Nicaraguan woman represents for us.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Palacios rose to fame as a beauty queen. But for her fans who gathered in San Francisco, she represents much more than the Miss Universe crown she wears — a reputation fueled not just by her life story but also her stance towards \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/nicaragua-united-nations-daniel-ortega-human-rights-822da5ffbb588dfe1deb3aceb9b45ff0\">the regime of Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11978829\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11978829\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-08-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-08-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-08-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-08-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-08-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-08-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-08-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Henrry Castro holds a large framed photo of Sheynnis Palacios, the winner of Miss Universe 2023, at the event with Palacios at Las Tinajas. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>From Managua to the Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Next to Miami, the Bay Area has \u003ca href=\"https://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Managua_North:_San_Francisco%27s_Solidarity_Movement\">one of the oldest and most established Nicaraguan communities in the country\u003c/a>. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2939747/\">armed conflicts of the ’70s and ’80s\u003c/a>, which saw significant U.S. involvement, brought thousands of Nicaraguans to San Francisco, where families quickly formed networks \u003ca href=\"https://eltecolote.org/content/en/nicoyas-in-bay-area-strategize-how-best-to-aid-nicaragua-through-political-crisis/\">to financially support each other and deliver clothing and food to folks still in Nicaragua\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over decades, these communities have grown very close-knit, forming groups like Chavalos De Aquí y Allá, which, along with Carnaval San Francisco, helped organize the Miss Universe visit. And Palacios’ own mother, Raquel Cornejo, has lived in San Francisco for years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11978835\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11978835\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-14-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-14-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-14-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-14-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-14-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-14-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-14-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">San Francisco Assessor-Recorder Joaquín Torres presents Sheynnis Palacios with a Certificate of Honor signed by Mayor London Breed at Las Tinajas restaurant in San Francisco on March 8, 2024. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In April 2018, \u003ca href=\"https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/7/17/nicaragua-unrest-what-you-should-know\">a series of protests erupted in Nicaragua against President Ortega\u003c/a>, a\u003ca href=\"https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/7/17/nicaragua-unrest-what-you-should-know\"> former Sandinista rebel fighter who had served three consecutive terms \u003c/a>since 2007. Tens of thousands of Nicaraguans took to the streets in favor of democratic reforms but were met with brutal — and deadly — repression from the government. In February of this year, during his fourth term, a panel from the international Human Rights Council accused the Ortega regime of \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/nicaragua-united-nations-daniel-ortega-human-rights-822da5ffbb588dfe1deb3aceb9b45ff0\">human rights abuses “tantamount to crimes against humanity.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When Palacios won the Miss Universe contest in 2023, \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/nicaragua-miss-universe-pageant-director-arrested-ortega-8d9691c3717b67ffd0f6041592f4fe49\">the Nicaraguan government initially celebrated her victory\u003c/a> as a point of national pride — until it emerged that Palacios had posted photos of herself participating in the 2018 protests to a now-deleted Facebook account.\u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/nicaragua-miss-universe-pageant-director-arrested-ortega-8d9691c3717b67ffd0f6041592f4fe49\"> Nicaraguan police then accused the director of the Miss Nicaragua pageant\u003c/a> of a conspiracy to favor anti-government contestants and arrested her family.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Aside from that Facebook posting, \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/03/nicaragua-miss-universe-daniel-ortega-sheynnis-palacios/\">Palacios has not made any public statements about Ortega\u003c/a>. But she swiftly became a symbol of resistance not just to people in Nicaragua but to the Bay Area diaspora, who in 2018 \u003ca href=\"https://eltecolote.org/content/en/nicoyas-in-bay-area-strategize-how-best-to-aid-nicaragua-through-political-crisis/\">organized several rallies and communal efforts\u003c/a> in solidarity with protesters in Nicaragua.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘We’ve never seen this before’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“I love that she stood up for herself and what she believes is right,” said Susana Sanchez-Young, an East Bay graphic designer who came to Palacios’ appearance in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11979923\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11979923\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-17-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-17-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-17-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-17-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-17-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-17-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-17-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Susana Sanchez-Young has her photo taken with Sheynnis Palacios at Las Tinajas. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>After Palacios won the Miss Nicaragua title last summer, more details of her life story emerged. Born in the country’s capital, Managua, and raised by her mother and grandmother on a limited income, Palacios started her own small business when she was in high school: selling buñuelos — sweet balls of fried dough — to pay her school fees and help support her family.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While some commentators in Nicaragua \u003ca href=\"https://observador.cr/miss-bunuelos-el-calificativo-que-le-dio-una-presentadora-de-nicaragua-a-la-nueva-miss-universo/\">have used this to ridicule Palacios\u003c/a>, for Sanchez-Young, it is only one more reason to root for Miss Universe. “The day that she won, I was so inspired,” Sanchez-Young said. “She’s nicaragüense, my culture. We’ve never seen this before.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11978843\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11978843\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-16-KQED-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-16-KQED-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-16-KQED-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-16-KQED-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-16-KQED-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-16-KQED-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-16-KQED-1-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans peer through the window of Las Tinajas restaurant to catch a glimpse of Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For Sanchez-Young, Palacios’ cultural status is such that she wants to see the new Miss Universe honored by another pop culture icon: Barbie.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the past few months, Sanchez-Young has collected signatures urging toy manufacturer Mattel to create a Miss Universe Barbie representing Palacios. \u003ca href=\"https://www.change.org/p/create-a-miss-universe-barbie-representing-miss-nicaragua\">Her petition has amassed over 6,000 signatures\u003c/a> and counting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As she heard Palacios’s acceptance speech on television, Sanchez-Young said, she began drawing the newly crowned queen, guided by the vision of the first Nicaraguan Barbie.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11978842\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11978842\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-15-KQED-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-15-KQED-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-15-KQED-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-15-KQED-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-15-KQED-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-15-KQED-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-15-KQED-1-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Eliana Felipe, 6, has her photo taken with Sheynnis Palacios at Las Tinajas. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We deserve Nicaraguan and Central American representation in the Barbie world — and they should start with her because she lit a fire under people,” Sanchez-Young said. “She lit up hearts all over Nicaragua, all over Central America, all over the world.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>‘The strength of a volcano’\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>News outlets across Central America\u003ca href=\"https://www.elsalvador.com/entretenimiento/espectaculos/sheynnis-palacios-miss-universo-2023-podria-correr-peligro-nicaragua-dictadura-ortega-destierro/1105083/2023/\"> report that the Ortega regime has now blocked Palacios from returning to Nicaragua\u003c/a>. Despite that pressure, she has not walked back from her involvement in the 2018 protests — one of the reasons Palacios has become a role model for Michelle Fonseca of San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Ortega is oppressing the people, but the fact that she won, it wasn’t just a beauty pageant,” Fonseca said outside Las Tinajas. “She represented a symbol of freedom for nicaragüenses. She brought joy because the people of Nicaragua are crying for freedom.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fonseca recently completed a master’s degree in social work, and her next goal is to get a job in the field, with a focus on mental health in Latino communities. This objective gained new meaning for her when she saw how Palacios has also used her platform to openly talk about her own mental health struggles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fonseca doesn’t want Palacios to stop speaking about issues close to her. “I’m rooting for her. I want her to continue to do what feels right in her mind and in her heart, and that’s exactly what she’s doing,” she said, adding, “La mujer nicaragüense is the strength of the volcano. That’s what we’re known for.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11978828\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11978828\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-07-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-07-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-07-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-07-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-07-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-07-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-07-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Michelle Fonseca wears a necklace resembling the Nicaraguan flag while waiting in line to meet Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11979928\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11979928\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-02.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"828\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-02.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-02-800x265.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-02-1020x338.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-02-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-02-1536x509.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-02-2048x678.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-DIPTYCH-02-1920x636.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: Michelle Fonseca waits in line to meet Sheynnis Palacios. Right: Michelle Fonseca speaks with Sheynnis Palacios at Las Tinajas. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But not all of Palacios’s admirers believe that it’s a smart move for the beauty queen to be politically vocal. “I think she should stay out of politics, at least for this year, because she’s representing everyone,” said Javier Solórzano, who has lived in San Francisco for 45 years since emigrating from Nicaragua.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite being far from Nicaragua, Solórzano has followed the actions of the Ortega government and is worried about what the regime could do. “I think for her own good and the sake of the [Miss Universe] organization, it’s best for her to stay out of politics,” he added. “But this is part of her. If she feels that way, that she needs to do that as a nicaragüense, she should.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11978830\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11978830\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-09-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-09-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-09-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-09-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-09-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-09-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/240308-MISS-UNIVERSE-MD-09-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rosargentina Herrera (left) and Lilian Berríos brought presents for Sheynnis Palacios to the event at Las Tinajas. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Lilliam Berríos left Nicaragua for San Francisco in 1967. In that time, she has seen both places go through radical transformations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Berríos said she has felt deep disappointment and heartbreak watching events in Nicaragua under Ortega. But, she said, she felt something different that morning outside of Las Tinajas: optimism.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I hope that one day Nicaragua changes,” Berríos said in Spanish. For her, hundreds of Nicaraguans gathering in one place to celebrate one of their own shows her everything that younger generations are capable of despite the repression of the Ortega regime.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Palacios’ crown is “the best thing that could have happened to Nicaragua,” Berríos said. “Because not only does it ennoble our country, it shows young people that anything is still possible, with effort, humility and hope.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/sundaymusicdrop\">The Sunday Music Drop is a weekly radio series hosted by the KQED weekend news team.\u003c/a> In each segment, we feature a song from a local musician or band with an upcoming show and hear about what inspires their music.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Francisco’s Mild Universe is a “six- to seven-piece” band that combines funk, disco, jazz, and psychedelic music. Based in the city, the band formed in 2019 and is made up of a collective of musicians who all grew up in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re all kind of like long-term friends,” drummer Sam Jones said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jones’s background is primarily in rock music, but he eventually began to listen to more jazz, R&B and dance. That led to him experimenting with different sounds and forming a band.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I kind of hand-selected some of my favorite musicians and curated, like a ‘super group’ of sorts,” Jones said. “We all know each other either through growing up in the city, going to the same high school, or just through adjacent music circles and music communities.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He describes Mild Universe’s sound as music that makes people dance with a retro aesthetic that pulls from some origins of disco music, 90s techno, and house influences. The lyrics for the song “Connected Endlessly” allude to a sort of interconnectedness while still being intentionally vague.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I guess the way I interpret it is being at odds with being connected through these greater circles of people you don’t even know on the other side of the planet,” he said. “And just how that tool of interconnectedness could be used for positivity and bringing people together.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/xn6eSfIKiF8?si=YnRK4VQdU5JzGalA\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The band plans to debut their next single, “Your Love,” on March 29, which Jones describes as “a really fun song” with “repetitive and vibey moments” that was written a long time ago. The single will lead up to Mild Universe’s full-length album, “Everything Must Change,” which will be released during the summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I guess [the album] was kind of inspired in a way by the city of San Francisco, which is constantly changing [as well as] acceptance of change,” Jones said. “I’m very, very happy with how it came out, and of any project I’ve been involved with, it’s probably the most fully realized that I’ve worked on.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To hear them live, Mild Universe will perform at \u003ca href=\"https://cafedunord.com/tm-attraction/mild-universe/\">Cafe du Nord\u003c/a> in San Francisco on Sunday, March 24, at 8:00 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He describes Mild Universe’s sound as music that makes people dance with a retro aesthetic that pulls from some origins of disco music, 90s techno, and house influences. The lyrics for the song “Connected Endlessly” allude to a sort of interconnectedness while still being intentionally vague.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I guess the way I interpret it is being at odds with being connected through these greater circles of people you don’t even know on the other side of the planet,” he said. “And just how that tool of interconnectedness could be used for positivity and bringing people together.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/xn6eSfIKiF8?si=YnRK4VQdU5JzGalA\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The band plans to debut their next single, “Your Love,” on March 29, which Jones describes as “a really fun song” with “repetitive and vibey moments” that was written a long time ago. The single will lead up to Mild Universe’s full-length album, “Everything Must Change,” which will be released during the summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I guess [the album] was kind of inspired in a way by the city of San Francisco, which is constantly changing [as well as] acceptance of change,” Jones said. “I’m very, very happy with how it came out, and of any project I’ve been involved with, it’s probably the most fully realized that I’ve worked on.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To hear them live, Mild Universe will perform at \u003ca href=\"https://cafedunord.com/tm-attraction/mild-universe/\">Cafe du Nord\u003c/a> in San Francisco on Sunday, March 24, at 8:00 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "More Muslim Students Are Getting Support at School During Ramadan Fasting",
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"content": "\u003cp>While Muslim students remain a rarity in many U.S. school districts, they are a major presence in some communities, prompting public schools to be more attentive to their needs during the holy month of \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/ramadan-islam-fasting-islamic-holy-month-d8c9e002e4904c5d8e0ccee2b77f9ad4\">Ramadan\u003c/a> when dawn-to-sundown fasting is a duty of Islam.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, in \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/michigan-primary-uncommitted-dearborn-arab-muslim-05f6a1099c00fe75823f77aaadbacf25\">Dearborn, Michigan\u003c/a> — where nearly half the 110,000 residents are of Arab descent — public school teachers and staff strive to make things easier for students observing Ramadan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We allow students on their own to practice their faith as long as it’s not a disruption to the school day,” said Dearborn Schools spokesperson David Mustonen. “We also try to find other spaces or activities in the school during lunch for those students who may be fasting.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[pullquote align=\"right\" size=\"medium\" citation=\"David Mustonen, spokesperson, Dearborn Schools in Michigan\"]‘We allow students on their own to practice their faith as long as it’s not a disruption to the school day. We also try to find other spaces or activities in the school during lunch for those students who may be fasting.’[/pullquote]But he stressed that these students are still required to complete all assignments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In St. Paul, Minnesota, East African Elementary Magnet School has set aside space in the library where students who are fasting and don’t want to be in the cafeteria can spend the break doing other supervised activities like reading, said principal Abdisalam Adam.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The 220-student school opened last fall as part of St. Paul’s public schools system, and shares that curriculum, but it also aims to reinforce cultural and linguistic connections with Somalia and other East African countries. Adam said about 90% of the students are Somali Muslims.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Adam, who has worked with the district for nearly 30 years, said he tells his staff that accommodating observance of Ramadan fits in with an overall goal of caring for students.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“All needs are connected,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For school districts less familiar with Muslim traditions, resources are available. For example, Islamic Networks Group, a California-based nonprofit, provides, among other things, online information for educators about Ramadan and its significance to Muslims.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many districts “don’t know very much about Islam or any of our holidays,” said Maha Elgenaidi, the group’s executive director. “If they don’t know very much about it, there’s not much they can provide to students in terms of accommodation” until they learn more and the parents are actively involved in asking for accommodations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She says fasting students may need to be excused from strenuous activities in gym class, and should be allowed to make up for tests missed due to absence to celebrate the Eid al-Fitr holiday that follows Ramadan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If they’re not accommodated at school or the school doesn’t know anything about this, they’re kind of living dual lives there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fasting is not required of young children, but many Muslim children like to fast to share in the month’s rituals and emulate parents and older siblings, according to ING. Educators also need to know of the typical changes to Muslim families’ routines during Ramadan, such as waking up for the pre-dawn “suhoor” meal and staying up late to possibly attend prayers in the mosque, Elgenaidi said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When Dr. Aifra Ahmed’s children were younger, the Pakistani American physician and her husband would share insight about Ramadan with their classmates, reading to them a Ramadan story and distributing goodie bags with such things as dates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I realized that the Muslim families in school have to do a lot of education,” said Ahmed, who lives in Los Altos, California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ahmed’s husband, Moazzam Chaudry, said goodwill gestures, such as when educators offer a Ramadan greeting, send a message of inclusivity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[pullquote align=\"right\" size=\"medium\" citation=\"Moazzam Chaudry, Los Altos resident\"]‘[T]hat’s the first thing that … naturally comes to your mind, ‘Are we integrated into this society? Does this society even accept us?’ These little, little things make such a huge impact.’[/pullquote]For immigrant families, “that’s the first thing that … naturally comes to your mind, ‘Are we integrated into this society? Does this society even accept us?’” he said. “These little, little things make such a huge impact.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Punhal, the couple’s daughter who attends a charter middle school, said she takes part in physical education during Ramadan but skips running when fasting because she would need water afterward.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She said a few non-Muslim friends told her they would like to fast with her in companionship.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Naiel, her brother who’s in a public high school, said he was pleased when a teacher talked to the class about Ramadan and told him that, if he needed, he could take a nap.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He wants others to better understand why he fasts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A lot of kids and teachers think … I’m torturing myself or like it’s a diet,” he said. “When I’m fasting, I just feel a lot more gratitude towards everyone around me and towards people who don’t have as much.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Dearborn, 14-year-old Adam Alcodray praised the faculty at Dearborn High for their understanding during Ramadan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A lot of the teachers are just like more lenient, allowing us to do less,” said Alcodray, a 9th grader. “They don’t get mad because they realize we are hungry.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside label=\"Related Stories\" postID=\"news_11978744,news_11979258,news_11911947,mindshift_62718\"]Alcodray says he fasts from 6:20 a.m. until around 8 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s not that bad to be honest,” he said. “When you know you can’t eat, something in your brain clicks.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hussein Mortada, a 17-year-old senior at Dearborn High, said family solidarity is invaluable during Ramadan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In my family, everybody’s fasting,” Mortada said. “Everybody’s going through the same thing. The whole month is meant for you to get closer to God and make your religion stronger.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year, Ramadan carries extra significance due to the hardships being suffered by people in Gaza amid the \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war\">Israel-Hamas war\u003c/a>, Mortada said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I feel helpless just sitting here on my phone, looking at everything that’s happening,” he said. “All you can do is feel for them and pray for them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Alcodray shared similar sentiments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When you look at what the children are eating in Gaza, you appreciate what your mom makes,” he said. “When you’re having a bad day, realize what they are going through.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the East African magnet school in St. Paul, Marian Aden — who trains other teachers there — makes it a priority to encourage Ramadan-related accommodations for fasting students.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Aden said her youngest daughter, 4-year-old Nora, woke up excited about Ramadan’s start on March 11 — but her teachers in the suburb where they live weren’t familiar with the occasion. Aden said she’ll be relieved when Nora starts attending the magnet school next year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She’ll be celebrated for who she is,” Aden said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[pullquote align=\"right\" size=\"medium\" citation=\"Adam Alcodray, student, Dearborn High School in Michigan\"]‘When you look at what the children are eating in Gaza, you appreciate what your mom makes. When you’re having a bad day, realize what they are going through.’[/pullquote]Minnesota has been home to growing numbers of \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/politics-religion-minneapolis-united-states-ded19bdda3065dea259a8c25842956d4\">refugees from war-torn Somalia\u003c/a> since the late 1990s. Several school districts have recently made Eid a holiday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Washington, D.C., Abdul Fouzi has two daughters, ages 8 and 12, who have gradually learned the meaning and rituals of Ramadan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Growing up in Sierra Leone in the 1980s, Fouzi said he was fasting for a full day as early as age 11. But he has not pushed his elder daughter to do likewise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re still pretty young so they’re not ready to go the whole day without food or water,” he said. “They’re not built like that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, he wants them to get used to the idea; this year he’d like them to experiment with fasting for a half day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To Fouzi, more important than strict adherence to the rules at their age is their understanding of Ramadan’s meaning and the importance of praying for peace.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They make up their own little rules and find loopholes figuring out how they want to participate in and practice Ramadan in different ways, and I’m okay with that,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Dell’Orto reported from Miami, Fam from Cairo and Sands from Washington.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s \u003ca href=\"https://bit.ly/ap-twir\">collaboration\u003c/a> with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>While Muslim students remain a rarity in many U.S. school districts, they are a major presence in some communities, prompting public schools to be more attentive to their needs during the holy month of \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/ramadan-islam-fasting-islamic-holy-month-d8c9e002e4904c5d8e0ccee2b77f9ad4\">Ramadan\u003c/a> when dawn-to-sundown fasting is a duty of Islam.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, in \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/michigan-primary-uncommitted-dearborn-arab-muslim-05f6a1099c00fe75823f77aaadbacf25\">Dearborn, Michigan\u003c/a> — where nearly half the 110,000 residents are of Arab descent — public school teachers and staff strive to make things easier for students observing Ramadan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We allow students on their own to practice their faith as long as it’s not a disruption to the school day,” said Dearborn Schools spokesperson David Mustonen. “We also try to find other spaces or activities in the school during lunch for those students who may be fasting.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>But he stressed that these students are still required to complete all assignments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In St. Paul, Minnesota, East African Elementary Magnet School has set aside space in the library where students who are fasting and don’t want to be in the cafeteria can spend the break doing other supervised activities like reading, said principal Abdisalam Adam.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The 220-student school opened last fall as part of St. Paul’s public schools system, and shares that curriculum, but it also aims to reinforce cultural and linguistic connections with Somalia and other East African countries. Adam said about 90% of the students are Somali Muslims.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Adam, who has worked with the district for nearly 30 years, said he tells his staff that accommodating observance of Ramadan fits in with an overall goal of caring for students.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“All needs are connected,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For school districts less familiar with Muslim traditions, resources are available. For example, Islamic Networks Group, a California-based nonprofit, provides, among other things, online information for educators about Ramadan and its significance to Muslims.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many districts “don’t know very much about Islam or any of our holidays,” said Maha Elgenaidi, the group’s executive director. “If they don’t know very much about it, there’s not much they can provide to students in terms of accommodation” until they learn more and the parents are actively involved in asking for accommodations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She says fasting students may need to be excused from strenuous activities in gym class, and should be allowed to make up for tests missed due to absence to celebrate the Eid al-Fitr holiday that follows Ramadan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>For immigrant families, “that’s the first thing that … naturally comes to your mind, ‘Are we integrated into this society? Does this society even accept us?’” he said. “These little, little things make such a huge impact.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Punhal, the couple’s daughter who attends a charter middle school, said she takes part in physical education during Ramadan but skips running when fasting because she would need water afterward.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She said a few non-Muslim friends told her they would like to fast with her in companionship.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Naiel, her brother who’s in a public high school, said he was pleased when a teacher talked to the class about Ramadan and told him that, if he needed, he could take a nap.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He wants others to better understand why he fasts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A lot of kids and teachers think … I’m torturing myself or like it’s a diet,” he said. “When I’m fasting, I just feel a lot more gratitude towards everyone around me and towards people who don’t have as much.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Dearborn, 14-year-old Adam Alcodray praised the faculty at Dearborn High for their understanding during Ramadan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A lot of the teachers are just like more lenient, allowing us to do less,” said Alcodray, a 9th grader. “They don’t get mad because they realize we are hungry.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Alcodray says he fasts from 6:20 a.m. until around 8 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s not that bad to be honest,” he said. “When you know you can’t eat, something in your brain clicks.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hussein Mortada, a 17-year-old senior at Dearborn High, said family solidarity is invaluable during Ramadan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In my family, everybody’s fasting,” Mortada said. “Everybody’s going through the same thing. The whole month is meant for you to get closer to God and make your religion stronger.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year, Ramadan carries extra significance due to the hardships being suffered by people in Gaza amid the \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war\">Israel-Hamas war\u003c/a>, Mortada said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I feel helpless just sitting here on my phone, looking at everything that’s happening,” he said. “All you can do is feel for them and pray for them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Alcodray shared similar sentiments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When you look at what the children are eating in Gaza, you appreciate what your mom makes,” he said. “When you’re having a bad day, realize what they are going through.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the East African magnet school in St. Paul, Marian Aden — who trains other teachers there — makes it a priority to encourage Ramadan-related accommodations for fasting students.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Aden said her youngest daughter, 4-year-old Nora, woke up excited about Ramadan’s start on March 11 — but her teachers in the suburb where they live weren’t familiar with the occasion. Aden said she’ll be relieved when Nora starts attending the magnet school next year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She’ll be celebrated for who she is,” Aden said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Minnesota has been home to growing numbers of \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/politics-religion-minneapolis-united-states-ded19bdda3065dea259a8c25842956d4\">refugees from war-torn Somalia\u003c/a> since the late 1990s. Several school districts have recently made Eid a holiday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Washington, D.C., Abdul Fouzi has two daughters, ages 8 and 12, who have gradually learned the meaning and rituals of Ramadan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Growing up in Sierra Leone in the 1980s, Fouzi said he was fasting for a full day as early as age 11. But he has not pushed his elder daughter to do likewise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re still pretty young so they’re not ready to go the whole day without food or water,” he said. “They’re not built like that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, he wants them to get used to the idea; this year he’d like them to experiment with fasting for a half day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To Fouzi, more important than strict adherence to the rules at their age is their understanding of Ramadan’s meaning and the importance of praying for peace.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They make up their own little rules and find loopholes figuring out how they want to participate in and practice Ramadan in different ways, and I’m okay with that,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Dell’Orto reported from Miami, Fam from Cairo and Sands from Washington.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s \u003ca href=\"https://bit.ly/ap-twir\">collaboration\u003c/a> with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/sundaymusicdrop\">The Sunday Music Drop is a weekly radio series hosted by the KQED weekend news team.\u003c/a> In each segment, we feature a song from a local musician or band with an upcoming show and hear about what inspires their music.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oakland’s Kiazi Malonga learned Congolese drumming and dance at an early age and described his music as very melodic, rhythmic, spiritual, rich, and invigorating. Malonga comes from a family of artists, including his late father, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Malonga-Casquelourd-3293179.php\">Malonga Casquelourd\u003c/a>, who was a world-famous master artist. His father immigrated to the United States from the Congo in the early 1970s (Malonga is the namesake of Oakland’s Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts) and created the first African dance and drum camp in the nation that ran for over 35 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Coming to this country, there was an opportunity to share the beauty and the richness of Congolese culture through dance, through song, through rhythm, through a number of different percussive instruments,” Malonga said. “And so just being in that legacy, I was a child of that. We didn’t have babysitters. So shows, performances, rehearsals, I was there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Regarding the song “Pelisa Kongo,” Malonga says Kongo is spelled with a ‘K’ because it refers to the ancient Congo kingdom. Pelisa Kongo means to brighten up, to energize, and to revitalize the Congo. While the song’s percussion and drumming instruments were recorded at RedTone Studios in East Palo Alto, all the artists singing, including Excellent Mavimba (with the exception of Malonga), were done in the Congo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In the first part of the song, [Excellent Mavimba] is acknowledging the fact that we come from a rich history,” Malonga said. “We’ve deviated from that rich, beautiful history to live in a time where, you know, basic needs aren’t being met. In the second section of the song, he goes through and talks about just the different elements that are impacted.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Regarding how the different drums relate to each other, Malonga says for the Bakongo people, drums are seen as a matriarchal family. The lead drum is called the “Ngurin Goma,” which literally means mother drum.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s matriarchal, meaning the mother drum leads the music,” he said. “The mother drum communicates with ancestors to then lead the entire ceremony. It [also] communicates with the dancers. And then those that play the accompaniment, that hold the rhythm are called ‘bala,’ which are children.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Malonga regularly visits the Congo to study, make new connections around art, and represent his culture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If I am talking to a listener that has not listened to Congolese music before, my hopes are that they are touched somewhere inside,” he said. “All of it is meant to be danced to, even if the subject matters are heavy. One of the things that I can say I really, really love about Congolese culture is that a lot of our expression, regardless of the subject matter, can be, it’s not always, but can be expressed through dance and movement.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’d like to hear Kiazi Malonga live, he’ll be performing at \u003ca href=\"https://www.tixr.com/groups/guildtheatre/events/local-sound-series-artelia-green-kiazi-malonga-94526\">The Guild Theatre\u003c/a> in Menlo Park on March 13 at 8 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Regarding how the different drums relate to each other, Malonga says for the Bakongo people, drums are seen as a matriarchal family. The lead drum is called the “Ngurin Goma,” which literally means mother drum.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s matriarchal, meaning the mother drum leads the music,” he said. “The mother drum communicates with ancestors to then lead the entire ceremony. It [also] communicates with the dancers. And then those that play the accompaniment, that hold the rhythm are called ‘bala,’ which are children.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Malonga regularly visits the Congo to study, make new connections around art, and represent his culture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If I am talking to a listener that has not listened to Congolese music before, my hopes are that they are touched somewhere inside,” he said. “All of it is meant to be danced to, even if the subject matters are heavy. One of the things that I can say I really, really love about Congolese culture is that a lot of our expression, regardless of the subject matter, can be, it’s not always, but can be expressed through dance and movement.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’d like to hear Kiazi Malonga live, he’ll be performing at \u003ca href=\"https://www.tixr.com/groups/guildtheatre/events/local-sound-series-artelia-green-kiazi-malonga-94526\">The Guild Theatre\u003c/a> in Menlo Park on March 13 at 8 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">View the full episode transcript.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The East Bay hills above Berkeley and Oakland are crisscrossed with beautiful hiking trails, and hidden along them are clues to the Bay Area’s past. In the trees near Leona Heights, there’s a clearing scattered with concrete walls. One of them is as big as a bus; others are small, like traffic barriers. All of them are painted with really good murals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bay Curious listener Darrell Lavin came across them while hiking with his cousin.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[baycuriousbug]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It looks like it was some sort of a very significant structure many, many years ago,” he said. “And I can’t help but wonder, what’s the history of this? What was there, and what was it used for? It made me very curious.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It turns out that the answer to Lavin’s question has a lot to do with… rocks. So, we asked a geologist.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Andrew Alden is a sprightly guy with a ponytail and gemstone earrings. He said in the late 1800s, when Bay Area cities were growing, people punctured the East Bay hills with quarries and mines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Crushed stone is a basic requirement of civilization,” he said. “You just need it for everything. You need it for railroad beds, you need it for building foundations, you need it to build harbors and wharves.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The concrete walls still visible today \u003ca href=\"https://ia801601.us.archive.org/9/items/38calicturalindu00auburich/38calicturalindu00auburich.pdf\">were part of the workings of the Leona Heights Quarry\u003c/a>, he said, which was where Merritt College is today. Workers blasted rock from deep pits in the hills and loaded it onto a conveyor tram, which carried it down the hill to a train, where it was loaded onto freight cars and shipped out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11977321\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11977321\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Conveyor-tram.jpg\" alt=\"Black and white photo of a wooden trestle conveyor tram snaking its way up a wooded hill.\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1807\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Conveyor-tram.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Conveyor-tram-800x730.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Conveyor-tram-1020x931.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Conveyor-tram-160x146.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Conveyor-tram-1536x1402.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Conveyor-tram-1920x1752.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">This photograph from 1912 shows a tram that brought stone from the quarry down to the train tracks.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The tram was a half-mile-long conveyor belt running on a wooden trestle. Historical records suggest its machinery was housed in the concrete ruins Lavin asked about. Slots in the walls probably framed the wheels that turned the belt.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>A fateful fire\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>The tram helped make the whole rock quarry operation possible but would ultimately destroy it. In 1913, a fire broke out near its base and ignited the conveyor belt, which carried the flames up the hill. \u003ca href=\"https://www.newspapers.com/image/999259004/\">An article in the Oakland Enquirer from Aug. 8th\u003c/a>, 1913, said the wooden trestle was “dry as tinder.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Stores of dynamite and powder in sheds in the path of the fire spread the blaze with great rapidity,” the article said. “Until long after midnight, the fire burned in the ravines of Leona Heights, to which blazing brands had been carried by the high wind. That no fatalities occurred was considered remarkable.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All the buildings and tools used in the quarry operation were incinerated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today, all that remains of the Leona Heights Quarry are the ruins of the conveyor tram that Darrell stumbled upon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The artists have adopted it,” Alden said. “And it belongs to the future as well as the past.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=KQINC3388391131&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>An unexpected art gallery\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>The concrete walls have been painted over many times by many artists. One of them is Pancho Pescador. He said he found this place by accident back in 1995 — not long after he moved to the United States — and was captivated by the murals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11977322\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11977322\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Oakland-Leona-Heights-ruins-lead.jpg\" alt=\"A man in black hoodie stands center, around him are remnants of concrete walls painted with vibrant art.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Oakland-Leona-Heights-ruins-lead.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Oakland-Leona-Heights-ruins-lead-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Oakland-Leona-Heights-ruins-lead-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Oakland-Leona-Heights-ruins-lead-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Oakland-Leona-Heights-ruins-lead-1536x864.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Artist Pancho Pescador stands between two of his pieces painted on the concrete ruins of the old Leona Heights Quarry. \u003ccite>(Katherine Monahan/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Graffiti art was still pretty new to Pescador at the time. He’d seen very little of it growing up in Chile \u003ca href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/Chile/The-military-dictatorship-from-1973\">under the repressive dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you [got] caught painting in the street,” he said, “you may get disappeared or dead.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For many street artists of the day, only urgent political messages were worth that risk, Pescador said. His work reflects the intensity of those early experiences. He pointed out one of his murals: a figure with the head of a bird carrying a paint roller.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That’s the weapon,” Pescador said. “He’s a warrior because he’s carrying his weapon.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The biggest concrete wall in the clearing is about the size of a semitruck. On it, artists have painted a woman, an AC Transit bus and the word “Ghost” in vibrant colors. It’s a memorial to a local artist who passed away at a young age, Pescador explained.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is not going anywhere,” he said. “I doubt anybody’s going to paint over this. I’m not gonna do it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For him, these concrete ruins are a special place, different from any other graffiti site. He loves painting up in the trees, with time to do big, intricate pieces with lots of colors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I like decay,” he said. “And I like seeing my pieces getting old.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[baycuriousquestion]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2 id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>The East Bay hills above Berkeley and Oakland are crisscrossed with beautiful hiking trails. Darrell Lavin, today’s question-asker, loves to explore them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Darrell Lavin:\u003c/b> My cousin lives right over in that area right near Leona Lodge. And so I go over there and hike with her all the time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>One day, they tried a trail he’d never been on before. Halfway up they came upon something unexpected.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Darrell Lavin:\u003c/b> It looks like it was some sort of a very significant structure many, many years ago. And it looks like there had to be some sort of a cabling system there to haul stuff up and down the hill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>Darrell figured his cousin would know what these ruins were, but she had no idea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Darrell Lavin:\u003c/b> And they’re all covered in graffiti. And the artwork is beautiful. And I can’t help but wonder, what’s the history of this, what was there and what was it used for?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>Darrell’s question won a Bay Curious voting round, so today we’re hiking up to these ruins near Leona Canyon Regional Park… to learn what was there more than a hundred years ago. And we’ll find out a bit more about that beautiful artwork that Darrell described. I’m Olivia Allen-Price. Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>SPONSOR MESSAGE\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>KQED Reporter Katherine Monahan loves hiking and mysteries, so she was the perfect person to send on an expedition to find out the history of these ruins in the Oakland hills and how they’re being used now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Footsteps in the woods\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> I’ve been hiking around for half an hour, looking for these ruins, when I see a flash of bright pink peeking through the oak trees that line the trail. I duck under a branch . . . and enter a clearing scattered with concrete walls. One of them is as big as a bus; others are small, like traffic barriers. All of them are painted with \u003ci>really good\u003c/i> murals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Andrew Alden: \u003c/b>And they built it well because the concrete is still in great shape.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> Andrew Alden, a geologist and local historian, meets me here. He’s a sprightly guy with a ponytail and gemstone earrings. He points out a clue to why these ruins are here. It’s a reddish rock, about the size of a mailbox.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Andrew Alden: \u003c/b>I think it’s just beautiful by itself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> What is it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Andrew Alden: \u003c/b>It started out as volcanic ash on the seafloor. It got involved in a lot of tectonic action, and it changed the rock into this very hard light-colored, very strong material that gets this honey-colored orange and red coating on it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Andrew Alden: \u003c/b>Geologists used to call it the Leona laterite. Now we just call it Leona Volcanic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> Alden says that in the late 1800s, when Bay Area cities were growing, rock like this was very much in demand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Andrew Alden: \u003c/b>Crushed stone is a basic requirement of civilization. You just need it for everything. You need it for railroad beds, you need it for building foundations, you need it to build harbors and wharves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> People punctured the East Bay hills with mines and quarries, looking for pyrite, sulfur, gold, though they didn’t really find any, and just rock.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Andrew Alden: \u003c/b>They started quarries wherever the rock was good just to make money from these hills.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> The ruins we’re looking at were part of the workings of the Leona Heights Quarry, says Alden, which was where Merritt College is today. Workers dynamited rock from pits and loaded it onto a conveyor tram leading down the hill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Andrew Alden: \u003c/b>It would send stone down to the electric train tracks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> It was a half-mile-long conveyor belt running on a wooden trestle. It looked kind of like an old-fashioned roller coaster. Historical records suggest its machinery was housed right here in this concrete. Slots in the walls probably framed the wheels that turned the belt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> This tram helped make the whole operation possible but would ultimately destroy it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Voice Reading Newspaper Report: \u003c/b>Oakland Enquirer, Aug. 8th, 1913 — Leona Fire Causes Big Loss, Town Is Menaced.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> A fire broke out near the base of the tram and ignited the conveyor belt, which carried the flames up the hill. The newspaper said the wooden trestle was “dry as tinder.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Voice Reading Newspaper Report: \u003c/b>Stores of dynamite and powder in sheds in the path of the fire spread the blaze with great rapidity. Until long after midnight the fires burned in the ravines of Leona Heights, to which blazing brands had been carried by the high wind. That no fatalities occurred was considered remarkable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> All the buildings and tools were incinerated, a quarter million dollar loss and a huge blow to the quarry. By the 1930s, it showed up in the papers mainly as a place where convicts hid out or kids got lost. Here’s Andrew Alden again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Andrew Alden: \u003c/b>Cheaper stone arose out of town, you know, quarries and cities can’t really coexist. Oakland has spread out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> Eventually, the quarry was filled in and is now a Merritt College parking lot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Andrew Alden: \u003c/b>There used to be a great big pit there they called Devil’s Punchbowl and all the local kids would get in trouble there. They’d push old cars into it and throw dynamite sticks and that kind of thing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> And what’s left of the conveyor tram …\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Andrew Alden: \u003c/b>As you see, the artists have adopted it. And it belongs to the future as well as the past.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Modern music transition\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> The concrete walls here have been painted over many times by many artists. One of them has been coming here for almost thirty years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pancho Pescador: \u003c/b>My name is Pancho Pescador. I’m originally from Chile. I always painted since I was a kid.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> He says he found this place by accident back in 1995, not long after he moved to the United States. He was out hiking by himself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pancho Pescador: \u003c/b>And I remember coming here and seeing the wall. Unexpected, because you’re in the middle of the forest and then you find all these ruins.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> They had murals on them even then.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pancho Pescador: \u003c/b>I was like, “What? Who paint this? This is so cool. Oh, he did it with spray paint?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> Graffiti art was still pretty new to Pescador at the time. He’d seen very little of it growing up in Chile.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pancho Pescador: \u003c/b>Because we have a dictatorship, so it was more repression. You know, if you get caught painting in the street, you may get disappeared or, or dead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> That was during the regime of Augusto Pinochet, who came to power in 1973 following a U.S.-backed coup. Through the 70s and 80s, thousands of Chileans disappeared or were killed under his rule, and almost 40,000 were held as political prisoners. Pescador says street artists of the day restricted themselves to political messages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pancho Pescador: \u003c/b>They didn’t write their name, you know, like, “Oh, Pancho was here” or, you know, like, they’re risking their life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> He shows me one of his pieces, a larger-than-life self-portrait, on a decaying chunk of concrete wall. It’s a figure with the head of a bird carrying a paint roller.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pancho Pescador: \u003c/b>That’s the weapon. You know, like, the weapon doesn’t have to be an M16. It could be a paint roller, so he’s a warrior because he’s carrying his weapon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> The painting has been here for about two years, which Pescador says is a long life for a piece up here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pancho Pescador: \u003c/b>You paint here, you know that you’re gonna get covered. That’s part of the game. It’s no crying, like, “Oh, you paint over me?” No, this is not the place, you know, you paint here, you know what’s going to happen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> But there are exceptions. On the biggest wall — which is about the size of a semitruck — is a long, vibrant painting of a woman, and an AC Transit bus, and the word “Ghost.” Pescador explains it’s a memorial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pancho Pescador: \u003c/b>A tribute to Ghost which was a writer from Oakland that unfortunately passed at a very young age, and some of her friends and homies did this piece to honor her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> He says this piece will last because artists won’t normally cover up a memorial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pancho Pescador: \u003c/b>This is not going anywhere. I doubt anybody’s going to paint over this. I’m not gonna do it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> He says this is a special place, different from your average graffiti site. Up here in the trees, you have time to do big, intricate pieces with lots of colors. It’s not like painting downtown, where you might get caught. And the hike screens out a lot of artists.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pancho Pescador: \u003c/b>You gotta be in shape. Because you’re gonna carry your backpack full of paint, probably a couple gallons of paint, roller, all the tools, water, it gets heavy. So you know, like, you need a certain special energy to do it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> Pescador says he loves painting up in these abandoned ruins.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pancho Pescador: \u003c/b>I like decay. And I like seeing my pieces getting old. I find beauty on that, a place that could be dark. And you know when you paint it, you change the energy. You do all the work for that, you know, like you see the place change, and it’s like, “Oh, yeah!” and then people appreciate it, you know?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> Through over a century of massive change around it, this place has adapted from rock quarry to outdoor art gallery. Who knows what it may become next or what it will see in the next century?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>That was KQED’s Katherine Monahan. Thanks to Darrell Lavin for asking the question we answered today.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>This Saturday, March 2 is one of my favorite events of the year. It’s the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/event/3954\">Night of Ideas at San Francisco Public Library’s Main Branch\u003c/a>. If you haven’t been … know this: it’s a mashup of artists, leading thinkers and cultural organizations all thinking about the future — and how city life can be more just, culturally vibrant, and sustainable. Bay Curious will be there this year, hanging out in the bookmobile. Stop by to share your personal transit tales with us and the podcast Muni Diaries. We’re teaming up to collect your stories and I can’t wait to hear what you might have for us. Find details and register for free at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/events\">KQED.org/Live\u003c/a>. I’ll see you there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>If you enjoy Bay Curious, tell another podcast-loving friend all about us, please! Word of mouth is one of the best ways for us to grow the show. Thank you!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>Bay Curious is made by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, and me, Olivia-Allen Price. Additional support from Alex Gonzalez, Dan Brekke, Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Cesar Saldana, Maha Sanad, Holly Kernan and the whole KQED Family. Have a great week!\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">View the full episode transcript.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The East Bay hills above Berkeley and Oakland are crisscrossed with beautiful hiking trails, and hidden along them are clues to the Bay Area’s past. In the trees near Leona Heights, there’s a clearing scattered with concrete walls. One of them is as big as a bus; others are small, like traffic barriers. All of them are painted with really good murals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bay Curious listener Darrell Lavin came across them while hiking with his cousin.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003caside class=\"alignleft utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__bayCuriousPodcastShortcode__bayCurious\">\u003cimg src=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/bayCuriousLogo.png alt=\"Bay Curious Podcast\" loading=\"lazy\" />\n What do you wonder about the Bay Area, its culture or people that you want KQED to investigate?\n \u003ca href=\"/news/series/baycurious\">Ask Bay Curious.\u003c/a>\u003c/aside>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It looks like it was some sort of a very significant structure many, many years ago,” he said. “And I can’t help but wonder, what’s the history of this? What was there, and what was it used for? It made me very curious.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It turns out that the answer to Lavin’s question has a lot to do with… rocks. So, we asked a geologist.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Andrew Alden is a sprightly guy with a ponytail and gemstone earrings. He said in the late 1800s, when Bay Area cities were growing, people punctured the East Bay hills with quarries and mines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Crushed stone is a basic requirement of civilization,” he said. “You just need it for everything. You need it for railroad beds, you need it for building foundations, you need it to build harbors and wharves.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The concrete walls still visible today \u003ca href=\"https://ia801601.us.archive.org/9/items/38calicturalindu00auburich/38calicturalindu00auburich.pdf\">were part of the workings of the Leona Heights Quarry\u003c/a>, he said, which was where Merritt College is today. Workers blasted rock from deep pits in the hills and loaded it onto a conveyor tram, which carried it down the hill to a train, where it was loaded onto freight cars and shipped out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11977321\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11977321\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Conveyor-tram.jpg\" alt=\"Black and white photo of a wooden trestle conveyor tram snaking its way up a wooded hill.\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1807\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Conveyor-tram.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Conveyor-tram-800x730.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Conveyor-tram-1020x931.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Conveyor-tram-160x146.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Conveyor-tram-1536x1402.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Conveyor-tram-1920x1752.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">This photograph from 1912 shows a tram that brought stone from the quarry down to the train tracks.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The tram was a half-mile-long conveyor belt running on a wooden trestle. Historical records suggest its machinery was housed in the concrete ruins Lavin asked about. Slots in the walls probably framed the wheels that turned the belt.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>A fateful fire\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>The tram helped make the whole rock quarry operation possible but would ultimately destroy it. In 1913, a fire broke out near its base and ignited the conveyor belt, which carried the flames up the hill. \u003ca href=\"https://www.newspapers.com/image/999259004/\">An article in the Oakland Enquirer from Aug. 8th\u003c/a>, 1913, said the wooden trestle was “dry as tinder.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Stores of dynamite and powder in sheds in the path of the fire spread the blaze with great rapidity,” the article said. “Until long after midnight, the fire burned in the ravines of Leona Heights, to which blazing brands had been carried by the high wind. That no fatalities occurred was considered remarkable.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All the buildings and tools used in the quarry operation were incinerated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today, all that remains of the Leona Heights Quarry are the ruins of the conveyor tram that Darrell stumbled upon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The artists have adopted it,” Alden said. “And it belongs to the future as well as the past.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=KQINC3388391131&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>An unexpected art gallery\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>The concrete walls have been painted over many times by many artists. One of them is Pancho Pescador. He said he found this place by accident back in 1995 — not long after he moved to the United States — and was captivated by the murals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11977322\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11977322\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Oakland-Leona-Heights-ruins-lead.jpg\" alt=\"A man in black hoodie stands center, around him are remnants of concrete walls painted with vibrant art.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Oakland-Leona-Heights-ruins-lead.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Oakland-Leona-Heights-ruins-lead-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Oakland-Leona-Heights-ruins-lead-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Oakland-Leona-Heights-ruins-lead-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Oakland-Leona-Heights-ruins-lead-1536x864.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Artist Pancho Pescador stands between two of his pieces painted on the concrete ruins of the old Leona Heights Quarry. \u003ccite>(Katherine Monahan/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Graffiti art was still pretty new to Pescador at the time. He’d seen very little of it growing up in Chile \u003ca href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/Chile/The-military-dictatorship-from-1973\">under the repressive dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you [got] caught painting in the street,” he said, “you may get disappeared or dead.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For many street artists of the day, only urgent political messages were worth that risk, Pescador said. His work reflects the intensity of those early experiences. He pointed out one of his murals: a figure with the head of a bird carrying a paint roller.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That’s the weapon,” Pescador said. “He’s a warrior because he’s carrying his weapon.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The biggest concrete wall in the clearing is about the size of a semitruck. On it, artists have painted a woman, an AC Transit bus and the word “Ghost” in vibrant colors. It’s a memorial to a local artist who passed away at a young age, Pescador explained.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is not going anywhere,” he said. “I doubt anybody’s going to paint over this. I’m not gonna do it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For him, these concrete ruins are a special place, different from any other graffiti site. He loves painting up in the trees, with time to do big, intricate pieces with lots of colors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I like decay,” he said. “And I like seeing my pieces getting old.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-content post-body\">\u003ch2 id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>The East Bay hills above Berkeley and Oakland are crisscrossed with beautiful hiking trails. Darrell Lavin, today’s question-asker, loves to explore them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Darrell Lavin:\u003c/b> My cousin lives right over in that area right near Leona Lodge. And so I go over there and hike with her all the time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>One day, they tried a trail he’d never been on before. Halfway up they came upon something unexpected.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Darrell Lavin:\u003c/b> It looks like it was some sort of a very significant structure many, many years ago. And it looks like there had to be some sort of a cabling system there to haul stuff up and down the hill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>Darrell figured his cousin would know what these ruins were, but she had no idea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Darrell Lavin:\u003c/b> And they’re all covered in graffiti. And the artwork is beautiful. And I can’t help but wonder, what’s the history of this, what was there and what was it used for?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>Darrell’s question won a Bay Curious voting round, so today we’re hiking up to these ruins near Leona Canyon Regional Park… to learn what was there more than a hundred years ago. And we’ll find out a bit more about that beautiful artwork that Darrell described. I’m Olivia Allen-Price. Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>SPONSOR MESSAGE\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>KQED Reporter Katherine Monahan loves hiking and mysteries, so she was the perfect person to send on an expedition to find out the history of these ruins in the Oakland hills and how they’re being used now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Footsteps in the woods\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> I’ve been hiking around for half an hour, looking for these ruins, when I see a flash of bright pink peeking through the oak trees that line the trail. I duck under a branch . . . and enter a clearing scattered with concrete walls. One of them is as big as a bus; others are small, like traffic barriers. All of them are painted with \u003ci>really good\u003c/i> murals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Andrew Alden: \u003c/b>And they built it well because the concrete is still in great shape.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> Andrew Alden, a geologist and local historian, meets me here. He’s a sprightly guy with a ponytail and gemstone earrings. He points out a clue to why these ruins are here. It’s a reddish rock, about the size of a mailbox.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Andrew Alden: \u003c/b>I think it’s just beautiful by itself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> What is it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Andrew Alden: \u003c/b>It started out as volcanic ash on the seafloor. It got involved in a lot of tectonic action, and it changed the rock into this very hard light-colored, very strong material that gets this honey-colored orange and red coating on it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Andrew Alden: \u003c/b>Geologists used to call it the Leona laterite. Now we just call it Leona Volcanic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> Alden says that in the late 1800s, when Bay Area cities were growing, rock like this was very much in demand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Andrew Alden: \u003c/b>Crushed stone is a basic requirement of civilization. You just need it for everything. You need it for railroad beds, you need it for building foundations, you need it to build harbors and wharves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> People punctured the East Bay hills with mines and quarries, looking for pyrite, sulfur, gold, though they didn’t really find any, and just rock.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Andrew Alden: \u003c/b>They started quarries wherever the rock was good just to make money from these hills.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> The ruins we’re looking at were part of the workings of the Leona Heights Quarry, says Alden, which was where Merritt College is today. Workers dynamited rock from pits and loaded it onto a conveyor tram leading down the hill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Andrew Alden: \u003c/b>It would send stone down to the electric train tracks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> It was a half-mile-long conveyor belt running on a wooden trestle. It looked kind of like an old-fashioned roller coaster. Historical records suggest its machinery was housed right here in this concrete. Slots in the walls probably framed the wheels that turned the belt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> This tram helped make the whole operation possible but would ultimately destroy it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Voice Reading Newspaper Report: \u003c/b>Oakland Enquirer, Aug. 8th, 1913 — Leona Fire Causes Big Loss, Town Is Menaced.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> A fire broke out near the base of the tram and ignited the conveyor belt, which carried the flames up the hill. The newspaper said the wooden trestle was “dry as tinder.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Voice Reading Newspaper Report: \u003c/b>Stores of dynamite and powder in sheds in the path of the fire spread the blaze with great rapidity. Until long after midnight the fires burned in the ravines of Leona Heights, to which blazing brands had been carried by the high wind. That no fatalities occurred was considered remarkable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> All the buildings and tools were incinerated, a quarter million dollar loss and a huge blow to the quarry. By the 1930s, it showed up in the papers mainly as a place where convicts hid out or kids got lost. Here’s Andrew Alden again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Andrew Alden: \u003c/b>Cheaper stone arose out of town, you know, quarries and cities can’t really coexist. Oakland has spread out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> Eventually, the quarry was filled in and is now a Merritt College parking lot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Andrew Alden: \u003c/b>There used to be a great big pit there they called Devil’s Punchbowl and all the local kids would get in trouble there. They’d push old cars into it and throw dynamite sticks and that kind of thing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> And what’s left of the conveyor tram …\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Andrew Alden: \u003c/b>As you see, the artists have adopted it. And it belongs to the future as well as the past.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Modern music transition\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> The concrete walls here have been painted over many times by many artists. One of them has been coming here for almost thirty years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pancho Pescador: \u003c/b>My name is Pancho Pescador. I’m originally from Chile. I always painted since I was a kid.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> He says he found this place by accident back in 1995, not long after he moved to the United States. He was out hiking by himself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pancho Pescador: \u003c/b>And I remember coming here and seeing the wall. Unexpected, because you’re in the middle of the forest and then you find all these ruins.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> They had murals on them even then.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pancho Pescador: \u003c/b>I was like, “What? Who paint this? This is so cool. Oh, he did it with spray paint?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> Graffiti art was still pretty new to Pescador at the time. He’d seen very little of it growing up in Chile.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pancho Pescador: \u003c/b>Because we have a dictatorship, so it was more repression. You know, if you get caught painting in the street, you may get disappeared or, or dead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> That was during the regime of Augusto Pinochet, who came to power in 1973 following a U.S.-backed coup. Through the 70s and 80s, thousands of Chileans disappeared or were killed under his rule, and almost 40,000 were held as political prisoners. Pescador says street artists of the day restricted themselves to political messages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pancho Pescador: \u003c/b>They didn’t write their name, you know, like, “Oh, Pancho was here” or, you know, like, they’re risking their life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> He shows me one of his pieces, a larger-than-life self-portrait, on a decaying chunk of concrete wall. It’s a figure with the head of a bird carrying a paint roller.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pancho Pescador: \u003c/b>That’s the weapon. You know, like, the weapon doesn’t have to be an M16. It could be a paint roller, so he’s a warrior because he’s carrying his weapon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> The painting has been here for about two years, which Pescador says is a long life for a piece up here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pancho Pescador: \u003c/b>You paint here, you know that you’re gonna get covered. That’s part of the game. It’s no crying, like, “Oh, you paint over me?” No, this is not the place, you know, you paint here, you know what’s going to happen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> But there are exceptions. On the biggest wall — which is about the size of a semitruck — is a long, vibrant painting of a woman, and an AC Transit bus, and the word “Ghost.” Pescador explains it’s a memorial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pancho Pescador: \u003c/b>A tribute to Ghost which was a writer from Oakland that unfortunately passed at a very young age, and some of her friends and homies did this piece to honor her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> He says this piece will last because artists won’t normally cover up a memorial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pancho Pescador: \u003c/b>This is not going anywhere. I doubt anybody’s going to paint over this. I’m not gonna do it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> He says this is a special place, different from your average graffiti site. Up here in the trees, you have time to do big, intricate pieces with lots of colors. It’s not like painting downtown, where you might get caught. And the hike screens out a lot of artists.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pancho Pescador: \u003c/b>You gotta be in shape. Because you’re gonna carry your backpack full of paint, probably a couple gallons of paint, roller, all the tools, water, it gets heavy. So you know, like, you need a certain special energy to do it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> Pescador says he loves painting up in these abandoned ruins.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pancho Pescador: \u003c/b>I like decay. And I like seeing my pieces getting old. I find beauty on that, a place that could be dark. And you know when you paint it, you change the energy. You do all the work for that, you know, like you see the place change, and it’s like, “Oh, yeah!” and then people appreciate it, you know?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Katherine Monahan:\u003c/b> Through over a century of massive change around it, this place has adapted from rock quarry to outdoor art gallery. Who knows what it may become next or what it will see in the next century?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>That was KQED’s Katherine Monahan. Thanks to Darrell Lavin for asking the question we answered today.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>This Saturday, March 2 is one of my favorite events of the year. It’s the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/event/3954\">Night of Ideas at San Francisco Public Library’s Main Branch\u003c/a>. If you haven’t been … know this: it’s a mashup of artists, leading thinkers and cultural organizations all thinking about the future — and how city life can be more just, culturally vibrant, and sustainable. Bay Curious will be there this year, hanging out in the bookmobile. Stop by to share your personal transit tales with us and the podcast Muni Diaries. We’re teaming up to collect your stories and I can’t wait to hear what you might have for us. Find details and register for free at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/events\">KQED.org/Live\u003c/a>. I’ll see you there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>If you enjoy Bay Curious, tell another podcast-loving friend all about us, please! Word of mouth is one of the best ways for us to grow the show. Thank you!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/b>Bay Curious is made by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, and me, Olivia-Allen Price. Additional support from Alex Gonzalez, Dan Brekke, Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Cesar Saldana, Maha Sanad, Holly Kernan and the whole KQED Family. Have a great week!\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>"
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"title": "Seeing Nicki Minaj at Oakland Arena? Everything to Know, From Parking to Bag Policies",
"headTitle": "Seeing Nicki Minaj at Oakland Arena? Everything to Know, From Parking to Bag Policies | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/meet-the-barbz-the-nicki-minaj-fandom-fighting-the-nicki-hate-train-705438/\">Barbz\u003c/a> will be convening in Oakland Arena on Friday night, where \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/nicki-minaj-tour-oakland-area-18550260.php\">Nicki Minaj will be launching her first solo tour in eight years\u003c/a>: \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/events/detail/nicki-minaj\">Pink Friday 2 World Tour\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As you prepare for the night when \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTLmjgntQsE\">Oakland will become “Gag City”\u003c/a> on March 1, you may be looking for a game plan for parking at the venue or just getting in and out of the crowded, hectic stadium as painlessly as possible. Keep reading for our at-a-glance information on parking options, bag policy, public transit and more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(And if you’re \u003cem>not \u003c/em>attending the Nicki Minaj show on Friday but you live, work or commute in the region? This guide might not be for you, but you should be prepared for I-880 around surrounding routes to potentially be busy on Friday night before or after the show.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#oaklandarenabagpolicy\">What’s the Oakland Arena bag policy?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#oaklandarenaparking\">What should I know about parking at and near Oakland Arena?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#coliseumpublictransit\">How can I take public transit to the Nicki Minaj concert?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What time is the Nicki Minaj show at Oakland Arena?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The show will start at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/events/detail/nicki-minaj\">The doors at Oakland Area will open at 7 p.m.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What will the weather be like on Friday night in Oakland?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.8051&lon=-122.2731\">National Weather Service predicts it will be raining Friday night with “possibly a thunderstorm before 10 p.m.\u003c/a>” Even though the Oakland Arena is an indoor venue, it is best for you to plan ahead for transportation (and bring an umbrella or a hooded coat for your entry and exit).\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"oaklandarenabagpolicy\">\u003c/a>What’s the Oakland Arena bag policy?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Bag check is not available at Oakland Arena, so you should plan ahead accordingly. Some things you \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/prohibited-items\">cannot bring\u003c/a> to the Nicki Minaj show on Friday include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Coolers\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Any type of backpacks\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bags larger than 14″ x 14″ x 6″\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Cigarettes\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Weapons or sharp objects\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bats and clubs\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Outside food or beverage (as well as hard side containers like a thermos)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Selfie sticks and tripods\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Strollers and portable chairs\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Seat cushions\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Large banners or flags\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11977242 aligncenter\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Oakland-Arena-Prohibited-Items-deea1b7735.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"436\" height=\"779\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Empty soft plastic bottles are allowed, as well as binoculars and still cameras with lenses shorter than 3 inches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11959799/how-to-avoid-a-car-break-in-bay-area\">Be careful if you’re choosing to stash anything in your vehicle\u003c/a> during the show, as break-ins are unfortunately common around the Bay Area. Don’t leave anything on display in your car, especially electronics like laptops — even if you think they’re hidden from view.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What should I know about accessibility at Oakland Arena?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Oakland Arena has a guide on its accessibility services, which can be \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/accessibility\">viewed on its website\u003c/a>. Accessibility highlights include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Assisted Listening Devices are available in the First Aid Section 106. The First Aid section also includes \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/oakland-a-z\">“(s)ensory bags, equipped with noise canceling headphones, fidget tools, verbal cue cards and weighted lap pads.”\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Elevators are available at the west side, near Section 114 and the east side, near Section 101.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>You can call 510-383-5743 or email customerservice@coliseum.com for information or requests.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"oaklandarenaparking\">\u003c/a>What should I know about parking at and near Oakland Arena?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/prepaid-parking-pass-only-nicki-minaj-oakland-california-03-01-2024/event/1C005F87CAC03309\">Official parking spots at Oakland Arena for the Nicki Minaj show are still available on Ticketmaster\u003c/a>, with general parking tickets for $40 and VIP parking for $80.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can check \u003ca href=\"https://spothero.com/search?kind=event&id=848262&view=dl\">websites like SpotHero\u003c/a> for non-stadium parking spots nearby. If you’re doing this, be sure to map the route using a tool like Google Maps, to make sure you know how long you have to walk and the shortest route to do so — and wear comfy footwear.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"coliseumpublictransit\">\u003c/a>How to take public transportation to the Nicki Minaj concert\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Public transit schedules can always be subject to change. Check the timings for your route on the day of the show itself, and be sure of your very last service home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/assets/img/Email-Maps-4-bd72220145.png\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Oakland Arena is located near \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/\">BART\u003c/a>, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.amtrak.com/stations/okj\">Capitol Corridor Amtrak train\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"http://www.actransit.org/\">AC Transit\u003c/a>. If you are taking the BART or Amtrak, you \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/public-transportation\">would need to get off the Coliseum Station and cross the ramp to the Arena\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are going to take an Uber or Lyft to or from the event, you will need to be picked up at Baldwin Gate. Baldwin Gate \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/oakland-a-z\">opens two hours before the event starts\u003c/a>. Be aware that there will likely be a surge charge around this time due to the crowds.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>How do I know if I’ve got a good seat at the Nicki Minaj show?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are anxious about anything obscuring your sight of the stage or how you want to get to your seat fast, you can check it out on Oakland \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/seating-charts\">Arena’s website\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://aviewfrommyseat.com/venue/Oakland+Arena/\">A View From My Seat\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Prepare for a super-crowded stadium experience\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There’s no shame in getting a little antsy in big crowds like this — in a packed stadium, it’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed. Read \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2021/11/09/1053828800/south-korea-seoul-halloween-crowd-safety-tips\">NPR’s full guide on what to do if you find yourself caught in a crowd crush.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to Mehdi Moussaïd, a research scientist in Berlin who studies crowd behavior, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2021/11/09/1053828800/south-korea-seoul-halloween-crowd-safety-tips\">rely on your instincts and senses if you feel like the crowd is getting too dense\u003c/a>. If you get stuck in a crush, move with the crowd, put your arms out in front of your chest and hold them there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In this position, you would have some space, just a little bit, to push for half a centimeter or just 1 centimeter — enough for you to keep breathing,” Moussaïd said to NPR in 2022. “It’s not going to be comfortable. You’re going to be feeling really bad, but at least you’ll survive.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Can I still get a ticket for Nicki Minaj at Oakland Arena?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/nicki-minaj-presents-pink-friday-2-oakland-california-03-01-2024/event/1C005F86B2692B5B\">Tickets are still being offered on Ticketmaster\u003c/a>, which is the most official way to secure your seat at the Nicki Minaj show for $88 and up. (If you need accessible tickets, be sure to filter for them on Ticketmaster’s website.) You can also find \u003ca href=\"https://www.stubhub.com/nicki-minaj-oakland-tickets-3-1-2024/event/152728261/\">resales on sites like StubHub\u003c/a> or look for better deals and seats on Facebook marketplace resales and Eventbrite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re buying a resale ticket, a note: \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/taylor-swift-scams-concert-tickets-better-business-bureau/13474055/\">The Better Businesses Bureau issued a warning about resale scams\u003c/a> during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, with many people discovering after sending the money through apps like Venmo or Zelle that these “tickets” never existed. Check out the person’s profile and their past posting history to see if it seems real. And \u003ca href=\"https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/28902-bbb-scam-alert-spot-the-scam-before-paying-big-bucks-for-taylor-swift-tickets\">if you do choose to buy a resale, use your credit card,\u003c/a> says the BBB. This at least provides some protection for you if the deal was fake.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are getting a resale from a friend, \u003ca href=\"https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/28902-bbb-scam-alert-spot-the-scam-before-paying-big-bucks-for-taylor-swift-tickets\">make sure you call your friend directly\u003c/a> — to make sure someone isn’t impersonating them online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"description": "The Barbz will be convening in Oakland Arena on Friday night, where Nicki Minaj will be launching her first solo tour in eight years: Pink Friday 2 World Tour. As you prepare for the night when Oakland will become “Gag City” on March 1, you may be looking for a game plan for parking at",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/meet-the-barbz-the-nicki-minaj-fandom-fighting-the-nicki-hate-train-705438/\">Barbz\u003c/a> will be convening in Oakland Arena on Friday night, where \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/nicki-minaj-tour-oakland-area-18550260.php\">Nicki Minaj will be launching her first solo tour in eight years\u003c/a>: \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/events/detail/nicki-minaj\">Pink Friday 2 World Tour\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As you prepare for the night when \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTLmjgntQsE\">Oakland will become “Gag City”\u003c/a> on March 1, you may be looking for a game plan for parking at the venue or just getting in and out of the crowded, hectic stadium as painlessly as possible. Keep reading for our at-a-glance information on parking options, bag policy, public transit and more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(And if you’re \u003cem>not \u003c/em>attending the Nicki Minaj show on Friday but you live, work or commute in the region? This guide might not be for you, but you should be prepared for I-880 around surrounding routes to potentially be busy on Friday night before or after the show.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#oaklandarenabagpolicy\">What’s the Oakland Arena bag policy?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#oaklandarenaparking\">What should I know about parking at and near Oakland Arena?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#coliseumpublictransit\">How can I take public transit to the Nicki Minaj concert?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What time is the Nicki Minaj show at Oakland Arena?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The show will start at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/events/detail/nicki-minaj\">The doors at Oakland Area will open at 7 p.m.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What will the weather be like on Friday night in Oakland?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.8051&lon=-122.2731\">National Weather Service predicts it will be raining Friday night with “possibly a thunderstorm before 10 p.m.\u003c/a>” Even though the Oakland Arena is an indoor venue, it is best for you to plan ahead for transportation (and bring an umbrella or a hooded coat for your entry and exit).\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"oaklandarenabagpolicy\">\u003c/a>What’s the Oakland Arena bag policy?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Bag check is not available at Oakland Arena, so you should plan ahead accordingly. Some things you \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/prohibited-items\">cannot bring\u003c/a> to the Nicki Minaj show on Friday include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Coolers\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Any type of backpacks\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bags larger than 14″ x 14″ x 6″\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Cigarettes\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Weapons or sharp objects\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bats and clubs\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Outside food or beverage (as well as hard side containers like a thermos)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Selfie sticks and tripods\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Strollers and portable chairs\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Seat cushions\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Large banners or flags\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11977242 aligncenter\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Oakland-Arena-Prohibited-Items-deea1b7735.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"436\" height=\"779\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Empty soft plastic bottles are allowed, as well as binoculars and still cameras with lenses shorter than 3 inches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11959799/how-to-avoid-a-car-break-in-bay-area\">Be careful if you’re choosing to stash anything in your vehicle\u003c/a> during the show, as break-ins are unfortunately common around the Bay Area. Don’t leave anything on display in your car, especially electronics like laptops — even if you think they’re hidden from view.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What should I know about accessibility at Oakland Arena?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Oakland Arena has a guide on its accessibility services, which can be \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/accessibility\">viewed on its website\u003c/a>. Accessibility highlights include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Assisted Listening Devices are available in the First Aid Section 106. The First Aid section also includes \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/oakland-a-z\">“(s)ensory bags, equipped with noise canceling headphones, fidget tools, verbal cue cards and weighted lap pads.”\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Elevators are available at the west side, near Section 114 and the east side, near Section 101.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>You can call 510-383-5743 or email customerservice@coliseum.com for information or requests.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"oaklandarenaparking\">\u003c/a>What should I know about parking at and near Oakland Arena?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/prepaid-parking-pass-only-nicki-minaj-oakland-california-03-01-2024/event/1C005F87CAC03309\">Official parking spots at Oakland Arena for the Nicki Minaj show are still available on Ticketmaster\u003c/a>, with general parking tickets for $40 and VIP parking for $80.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can check \u003ca href=\"https://spothero.com/search?kind=event&id=848262&view=dl\">websites like SpotHero\u003c/a> for non-stadium parking spots nearby. If you’re doing this, be sure to map the route using a tool like Google Maps, to make sure you know how long you have to walk and the shortest route to do so — and wear comfy footwear.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"coliseumpublictransit\">\u003c/a>How to take public transportation to the Nicki Minaj concert\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Public transit schedules can always be subject to change. Check the timings for your route on the day of the show itself, and be sure of your very last service home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/assets/img/Email-Maps-4-bd72220145.png\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Oakland Arena is located near \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/\">BART\u003c/a>, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.amtrak.com/stations/okj\">Capitol Corridor Amtrak train\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"http://www.actransit.org/\">AC Transit\u003c/a>. If you are taking the BART or Amtrak, you \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/public-transportation\">would need to get off the Coliseum Station and cross the ramp to the Arena\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are going to take an Uber or Lyft to or from the event, you will need to be picked up at Baldwin Gate. Baldwin Gate \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/oakland-a-z\">opens two hours before the event starts\u003c/a>. Be aware that there will likely be a surge charge around this time due to the crowds.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>How do I know if I’ve got a good seat at the Nicki Minaj show?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are anxious about anything obscuring your sight of the stage or how you want to get to your seat fast, you can check it out on Oakland \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/seating-charts\">Arena’s website\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://aviewfrommyseat.com/venue/Oakland+Arena/\">A View From My Seat\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Prepare for a super-crowded stadium experience\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There’s no shame in getting a little antsy in big crowds like this — in a packed stadium, it’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed. Read \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2021/11/09/1053828800/south-korea-seoul-halloween-crowd-safety-tips\">NPR’s full guide on what to do if you find yourself caught in a crowd crush.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to Mehdi Moussaïd, a research scientist in Berlin who studies crowd behavior, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2021/11/09/1053828800/south-korea-seoul-halloween-crowd-safety-tips\">rely on your instincts and senses if you feel like the crowd is getting too dense\u003c/a>. If you get stuck in a crush, move with the crowd, put your arms out in front of your chest and hold them there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In this position, you would have some space, just a little bit, to push for half a centimeter or just 1 centimeter — enough for you to keep breathing,” Moussaïd said to NPR in 2022. “It’s not going to be comfortable. You’re going to be feeling really bad, but at least you’ll survive.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Can I still get a ticket for Nicki Minaj at Oakland Arena?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/nicki-minaj-presents-pink-friday-2-oakland-california-03-01-2024/event/1C005F86B2692B5B\">Tickets are still being offered on Ticketmaster\u003c/a>, which is the most official way to secure your seat at the Nicki Minaj show for $88 and up. (If you need accessible tickets, be sure to filter for them on Ticketmaster’s website.) You can also find \u003ca href=\"https://www.stubhub.com/nicki-minaj-oakland-tickets-3-1-2024/event/152728261/\">resales on sites like StubHub\u003c/a> or look for better deals and seats on Facebook marketplace resales and Eventbrite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re buying a resale ticket, a note: \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/taylor-swift-scams-concert-tickets-better-business-bureau/13474055/\">The Better Businesses Bureau issued a warning about resale scams\u003c/a> during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, with many people discovering after sending the money through apps like Venmo or Zelle that these “tickets” never existed. Check out the person’s profile and their past posting history to see if it seems real. And \u003ca href=\"https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/28902-bbb-scam-alert-spot-the-scam-before-paying-big-bucks-for-taylor-swift-tickets\">if you do choose to buy a resale, use your credit card,\u003c/a> says the BBB. This at least provides some protection for you if the deal was fake.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are getting a resale from a friend, \u003ca href=\"https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/28902-bbb-scam-alert-spot-the-scam-before-paying-big-bucks-for-taylor-swift-tickets\">make sure you call your friend directly\u003c/a> — to make sure someone isn’t impersonating them online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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