"What is the sound of one cat saying meow?" That's easy. ("Meow!") And kind of stupid. We saw it painted on a sign during an odd procession heading up Market Street a year or two ago on April Fools' Day. The signs and costumes were calibrated to draw laughter at their bearers but not take on anything deep or paradoxical. Then we saw a sign that read "I can't afford an actual sign." Pure paradox, that. But again, easy and sort of dumb in a self-satisfied way. Like the look worn by the Doggie Diner head. We saw three of those, as well as Wavy Gravy in a bowler hat and an old timey striped swimming suit you might see on one of the Three Stooges or Little Rascals. There were fright wigs, capes, angel wings, and weird helmets. None of it made sense, unless it was taken as a whole: hundreds of people, all doing stupid things, unified by a smug attitude. We've since learned it was the St. Stupid's Day Parade, which is put on Friday (April 1, in case you hadn't guessed) for the 33rd year by the First Church of the Last Laugh.
The St. Stupid's Day Parade starts at noon Friday in Justin Herman Plaza. Admission is free.
