San Francisco in 2008 isn't quite the Barbary Coast (for better or worse). But the city will host a few Tall Ships and a Pirate Academy next week when the Parade of Sail -- through the Golden Gate -- starts the five-day Festival of Sail. Here's what's happening:

• Wednesday, July 23 (10am): Parade of Sail - 32 Tall Ships Sail Under the Golden Gate Bridge
• July 23 to July 27: Festival of Sail - Tall Ship tours, festival events, three festival villages, pirate academy, mock cannon battles and day sails

The parade is free from any vantage point along the Marin Headlands, San Francisco waterfront, or any view point of the Golden Gate Bridge. A schedule of daily events is available at the Festival of Sail website.

Additional details - Festival of Sail:

• The three Festival of Sail villages will be at: AT&T Park (Green Village), Ferry Building (International Sail Village), and Pier 43-1/2 (Marine Educational Village)
• Purchase Boarding Passes online for one of three villages, which will feature several vessels and other maritime-history highlights ($10 to $20)
• Board the Red and White Fleet Water Taxi to connect between the three villages. Book online ($16) for a full day pass

Related Articles:

• Barbary Coast Trail - Photo Tour
• San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (Photos)
• Profile of Red and White Fleet's SF Explorer Cruise

^{Image Courtesy of Festival of Sail}

From San Francisco's Aquatic Park to West Berkeley's paved roads -- to our local airports and the myriad WPA murals -- a network of New Deal projects underlies a significant portion of our public infrastructure, largely unnoticed.

The Living New Deal Project formed in an effort to document the legacy of these works, and to make public and visible the grand heritage we owe to the policies and agencies of FDR's New Deal.

The Living New Deal Project celebrates this year (the 75th anniversary of Roosevelt's inaugural address of 1933) with multimedia presentations, a book, an online database, exhibits, public presentations and more. You can also see a map of New Deal projects throughout the Bay Area.

An additional nod to the New Deal . . . LaborFest 2008 celebrates the 75th anniversary with a month's worth of programs, films and city tours on the subject. This weekend's events include: a boat tour on the topic of "building bridges and labor maritime history," and a tour of the Redstone Building (formerly the San Francisco Labor Temple) in the Mission District. See the full LaborFest schedule here.

More Resources:

• Living New Deal Project
• LaborFest 2008 Event Schedule
• Photos of WPA Murals at Coit Tower
• Photos of WPA Murals at Rincon Center Postal Annex
• Overview of Bloody Thursday in San Francisco

^{WPA Mural at Beach Chalet - San Francisco
Photo © Ingrid Taylar}

Does a service like GottaPark encourage more driving in San Francisco? I've heard that argument, but it doesn't necessarily sway me. Unless you absolutely have to drive, why would you even consider paying 50 or 100 bucks (in some cases) to lease someone's driveway? That said, if you're driving anyway, GottaPark offers an alternative to circling the block. Or hitching rides because you don't want to lose your spot.

Here's how it works. If you need a place to park at a specific time, plug those variables into the GottaPark search form and it will render a list of commercial and residential spots available for the buying. If you have a spot, a driveway, a garage -- you're free to post the availability for others to rent.

Check it out in person: GottaPark.com.

Public Transit Resources:

• Hop Stop Trip Planner
• Muni Metro Map
• San Francisco Neighborhood Map

^{"No Parking" Art on San Francisco Garage
Photo © Ingrid Taylar}

Most recent 2008 California fire updates now posted in these documents:

• General Fire Information
• Big Sur Fires 2008: How to Help
• Butte County Fires 2008: How to Help

Specials thanks to photographer Robert A. Eplett of the California Office of Emergency Services, for the Butte County fire images used here and in the referenced articles.