Happy New Year (?)
Well, at least it's not 2025...
I’d been trying to write an “end of the year” post but the best I could come up with for 2025 was how cold it was. We had the coldest summer in decades in 2025, and the year ended with a nice big storm and a blackout. It wasn’t just cold in the temperature sense - the whole world felt like it got a lot colder in all sorts of ways, and none of them good.
Who wants to recap all of that?
Then I looked at some of the posts that were popular this year and many of them were of those urban moments of good one can find, even in times when most of the world seems intent on lighting everything and everyone on fire. You know it’s been a tough year when a glammed up Muni train really does brighten your day. So did the Inner Sunset Flea Market. It was also nice to go to SF City Football Club’s games at Kezar in 2025, and I’m looking forward to seeing them play again in the new year. So, sure, it wasn’t 100% bad, so that’s…good I guess?
I did manage to finally leave town for the first time in years, for a very last minute work trip in Los Angeles. The trip itself was fine, and it gave me a chance to try Los Angeles’ enhanced transit system. This should be an entire post on its own, but for now all I can say is that I got from LAX to West Hollywood entirely on trains and buses, and not only was it fast, but the stations were clean and secure, and the whole trip cost me….$1.75. As surprises go, that was a nice one.
Plus, when I got to the new LAX transit center, riders arriving were greeted by staff who gave out schedules and helped people get a TAP card (the LA version of Clipper) on their phones right away. The entire experience of getting off the plane, to baggage claim and to the bus to the center and to my final destination was seamless and fast. I know that plans for the big events coming to LA have a lot of people nervous, but this was a sign that at least their transit people are trying to get it right.
I managed to arrive in Los Angeles the one day they had a big storm, and yet despite the rain in LA (!) I was able to make all my connections and never once got rained on, so that was another nice surprise. I didn’t have a lot of time to plan this trip, so I didn’t get to do all the things I’d normally get to do or see everyone while in Southern California, but I had a nice time just being away from home for a few days.
Plus, I also took the train to Pasadena, and got to see the Huntington Gardens with a friend of mine. I hadn’t been to Pasadena in ages, so it was nice to check it out, even if only for an afternoon.
Ok, enough about my short trip to LA.
For 2026, I’m going to continue and try to provide something that’s worth reading for you in these times as best I can. The format and the frequency will change a bit for the new year, but I’m looking forward to trying some new things out and have some fun with this newsletter. Thanks again for your patience and your continued readership!
PS: There’s going to be a photo show of the SFMTA Archives at City Hall starting January 15th which should be interesting. Be sure to check it out.