The 1920s F train’s seen a lot over the years: pre-war passengers in their hats, tickets purchased for a few cents and decades of use on the streets. What better way to celebrate the resilience of the streetcar than to climb aboard for a Prohibition-era-inspired experience? At the Hotsy Totsy Club F Train Experience, you can get a feeling for the San Francisco of a century ago.
Once on board, enjoy musicians and chanteuses in their best vintage gear belting out jazz and appreciate the bustle of San Francisco’s main thoroughfare with this year’s last UNSTAGED: First Thursdays Live on Mid-Market event happening Thursday, November 7 from 4 to 7pm. You can be part of the Hotsy Totsy Club F Train Experience for free by jumping on at F Train stops on Market Street between Van Ness and Embarcadero; seating may be limited.
The train that will be used for November’s speakeasy-like event is this one, a 1912 streetcar with a big history: San Francisco Mayor James Rolph, Jr. drove it himself on Geary Street on December 28, 1912 as part of the ceremonies around Muni’s opening. Rolph paid his five-cent fare with one of the first 40 nickels minted at the San Francisco Mint. On hand to mark the opening of the transit giant were 50,000 San Franciscans!
Organizers note that this will be the largest performance on the train so far, with a four-person jazz band, a fan dancer and character actors. It’ll be swell!
There’s more to experience than just the Hotsy Totsy Club. Market Street Arts has created an entire block-long immersive experience through UNSTAGED, energizing downtown and bringing crowds to enjoy the blocked-off street. There will be more than 20 experiential or immersive performance and art interactions, including in vacant storefronts. Watch Bandaloop performers “walk” on skyscrapers, dance cumbia with Combo Tezeta, watch or participate in a breakdance battle with All the Way Live, gather up your courage to sing karaoke with the Mediocre Music Jam at Saluhall or do a lip sync contest with Black Benatar at the Line Hotel patio in the Transgender District.
Plus you can watch a Filipino cooking demo with Kultivate Labs, make a holiday wreath with Workshop SF… well, this is only a small sampling of the music, art and dance offerings at UNSTAGED.
For more info and to register (it’s free), click here.
