Crunchies vs. Crappies

The 7th Annual Crunchies Awards, given to "recognize and celebrate the most compelling startups, internet and technology innovations of the year," took place at Davies Symphony Hall last night, with comedian John Oliver subversively hosting and masses of extra security to keep protestors away from the celebrants. There were awards given out to everything from "Sexiest Enterprise Startup" to "Venture Capitalist of the Year."



There was also a small protest in front of the Henry Moore statue at the corner of Van Ness and Grove where satirical "Crappies" were to be given out. Tommi Avicolli Mecca was giving a speech as we walked by decrying the subjugation of San Francisco by our techie overlords, pointing at a nearby Muni stop and announcing that $1 to use a public bus stop by private Google buses was an outrage.



Meanwhile, a long line of mostly white young men waited to enter the awards show and the after-party in the same location. There was no word on whether a mechanical bull was going to be part of the festivities (click here).



We all know that history repeats itself in cycles, but what feels new is how quickly this particular cycle has come full circle. San Francisco has gone from dot-com bust to overheated boom again within fifteen years, and the present moment is feeling very 1999 when the actual tech geniuses were suddenly outnumbered by newly arrived, affluent young people working in Marketing.

Shunted next to the protestors by security was the sweet young man above who wasn't part of either group. He was just trying to get word out about yet another startup, a website where you can organize your fabulous wardrobe online. Click here to check it out.