This was the year Bay to Breakers got written about. First, someone said something about all the naked people pissing in the bushes and drinking Labatt’s and throwing up. Other NIMFYs along the route chimed in, national cable news outfits dusted off the angle they use for San Francisco stories (they find us funny, see?), and, for a moment, it looked like the race would consist entirely of sober people lined up in front of Porta Pottis with all their clothes on. Also, no floats. Then someone made a Facebook page! So Ross Mirkarimi held a news conference and said, "Nudity and floats are part of the spirit of the race,” and “I have been scantily clad." So, concessions were made, and the new “zero tolerance” rules were relaxed. Floats are back. Nudity is fine. Alcohol is still banned, but check this from the site: “Kegs and glass bottles will be removed from the racecourse.” Read that one carefully. As for not using the Porta Pottis, what are you, three?
Sun., May 17, 8 a.m., 2009
