The Thursday Night SLO LIfe
By Andy Tong
Wanna see what goes on at Bike Night? Click here for the video!
Thursday night these streets become lined with all sorts of vendors and entertainment.
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So What is there to do In San Luis Obispo?There’s a joke among longtime
residents of San Luis Obispo, or “SLOcals” as they are affectionately referred
to, that often takes the form of a postcard. Yellow lettering spells out, “SLO
after dark” on a completely black background. While it’s true that San Luis
Obispo isn’t exactly known for its nightlife scene, to say that it becomes dead
after the sun goes down is completely untrue. On Thursday night, San Luis
Obispo brings out all kinds of good food, great fun and….bikes? San Luis Obispo
exists partially as a college town, with the requisite bars dotted around the
main streets of downtown, but on Thursday nights it completely transforms.
Starting at 6 o’clock, Higuera Street, the main road running through downtown,
becomes lined on both sides with booths of all sorts. From restaurants to
vendors, to information booths for a variety of advocacy groups, Farmer’s
Market is a SLO staple for local businesses of all kinds to come out and
interact with the community in ways that brick and mortar storefronts rarely
get to.
Farmers Market, unlike the numerous bars, attracts all ages and families to downtown. Starting at 6 p.m. and running until 9 p.m., the market has long been a fixture among San Luis residents. The more than 120 booths offer food and entertainment, running the gamut from Asian noodle bowls to Santa Maria style tri-tip and ribs, a Central Coast specialty featuring seasoned tri tip grilled over an open wood fire. Farmer’s Market also includes a wide variety of musical entertainment at nearly every street corner, as well as something for every age. The storefronts are also always open during Farmer’s inviting visitors to come in and browse as well as buy. The open air market, along one of San Luis Obispo’s most beautiful tree lined streets, has become a tourist attraction as well as a longtime resident favorite. You may be wondering what the bikes are all about in the opening paragraph, and I’m here to tell you about another uniquely SLO gathering. On the first Thursday of every month, local enthusiasts gather at Mission Plaza for “Bike Night”, a giant ride open to anyone with a bike through downtown San Luis Obispo. After all the crowds and booths are gone, starting at 9:30, bikers take to the streets in huge numbers, with gleeful shouts of “Bike night!” echoing through the streets. The ride route encompasses some 12 blocks of downtown SLO in a large circuit, ending in a parking lot with a roundabout and then continuing until 10:00, or in my case, until the out-of-shape can no longer keep up! Both of these gatherings encompass the spirit of San Luis Obispo, a closely bound community with our very own unique sense of fun and involvement. If you want to come out, be aware that the intersections of Higuera will be blocked off, so plan your drive and parking arrangements accordingly. And remember to bike safe and always wear a helmet. More information can be found at http://downtownslo.com/farmers-market/ and http://bikehappening.org/. We hope to see you there! |