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Tourist trappings
It took me a while to become a tourist in my own town. A couple of weeks ago Dave and I decided we should eat some Dungeness crab before it goes out of season. Some friends arrived in town at an opportune time, so I announced that I would be going to Fisherman's Wharf to buy crab for us to enjoy together.
When I worked downtown, I had a regular running route that took me right through the Wharf. I always thought that the best way to see this popular tourist spot was at six miles per hour, without stopping. I think I've been here as a pedestrian exactly once since we moved here eight years ago.
But on Friday I realized that it's really not so bad. There have been quite a few big improvements that make it seem more like an open-air museum commemorating a disappearing fishing industry and less like a place to get shafted buying cheap fleece jackets to cover up in the weather that is always unexpectedly cold for out-of-towners.
Don't get me wrong, the horribly tacky stores are still there, but some more life and character have been brought back to the place. There's a new Maritime Historic Park Visitor Center, the Hyde Street Pier, and the relocated (and free as always!) Musee Mechanique. And on a hazy Friday afternoon, it wasn't too terribly crowded.
And, of course, there were the seafood stands. Piles of cooked crabs lay upside-down, the cooking pots themselves spewing briny steam. Tourists made tough decisions: crab, shrimp cocktail, lobster roll, or chowder in a sourdough bowl?
And the Bush Man was there, waiting to scare the bejeezus out of unsuspecting passersby. He is so popular, and so successful at this endeavor, and the typical pedestrians are paying so little attention to their surroundings (what the hell is a bush doing on a sidewalk by a wharf?), that crowds gather to watch him frightening folks as they walk by.
He gets them every time. Hilarious.
The crab? It was delicious.
January 20, 2007 10:06 PM
I love the Bush Man.
You would think that since I live in the Wharf, I would take advantage of this, but I never seem to do - perhaps you will inspire me. Also, the Bush man got me once so bad that I literally almost needed some new pants. Now that I know better, I seem to enjoy him that much more.
when i was about 8 years old (and my bro was 11) my family went out to eat at what is now mccormick & kuleto's. the bush guy was sitting a the bottom of the stairs on the sidewalk heading up into ghiradelli square. he jumped out at my brother and scared the living crappola out of him. as a little sister who was constantly taking the brunt of my brother's beatings, it was probably one of the funniest things i'd seen ever. my brother was really freaked out. i was soooo glad it wasn't me who got to those stairs first.
ps. unrelated: did you change your font on this blog?
Downtown Boulder is in serious need of a Bush Man. The only problem is that if he ever came to downtown Boulder he'd either be arrested or sued within 15 minutes. Still, it would be an awesome 15 minutes of entertainment.
i heart bush man, crab, and the wharf. Did you know jacks in the cannery has a bazillion beers on tap? need i say more?