Saturday, November 17, 2012

Frank Chu and The Nudists at City Hall



After breakfast at Market and Eighth at Sam's, I ran into Frank Chu (above and below left). He was marching determinedly up Grove Street with his Galaxies/Laughing Squid sign, looking more than usually untucked.



"Where you going, Frank?" I asked him politely, and he just as politely pointed towards San Francisco City Hall and said, "Nudists at noon in front of City Hall. Should be in about five minutes." As Colleen O. writes in her five-star review of Frank Chu on Yelp (click here): "Any major outdoor event in San Francisco isn't *really* a major outdoor event in San Francisco until Frank Chu shows up. Once you see that sign bobbing over the crowd, you know the party is on."



The nudists who are being harassed in the Castro and Market parklet (click here) have decided to bring their message to Civic Center. Earlier in the week, they were seen marching up the sidewalk by a contingent of teenagers who had been bused in for an afternoon Tosca dress rehearsal at the Opera House. Reportedly the students laughed and applauded for the nudists. "Welcome to the neighborhood," I told them.

4 comments:

AphotoAday said...

I love Frank Chu dearly, but am SO very glad he chose to remain clothed.

Civic Center said...

Dear Donald: I've also been following Frank Chu for years with some fondness. His sartorial style is basically a Chinese small businessman/shopkeeper who has gone a bit to seed. When he's looking completely undone and untucked, as he was today, I worry about him slightly.

Completely naked, in the context of the demonstration above, would have been shocking but it would have also looked healthier than a businessman on a three-day bender which is what Frank was appearing like. Still, if you've got a look, stick with it, as my friend Terence is always saying.

Axel Feldheim said...

Frank Chu showing up at this event is just too good. Mr. Chu definitely puts his ups & downs out there for everyone to see, but how DOES he keep up with all the goings on in the City? He's got to be one of the most well-informed citizens around.

Civic Center said...

Dear Axel: His knowledge of all public events ahead of time is almost supernatural. Maybe the voices in his head are real.