environment for everybody. there is no cultural barrier to entry. >> the demographic of people who come will match the demographic of the reader. it is very simple. if we want more people of color, you book more people of color. you want more women, your book more women. kind of like that. it gets mixed up a little bit. in general, we kind of have a core group of people who come every month. their ages and very. we definitely have some folks who are straight. >> the loyal audience has allowed michelle to take more chances with the monthly lineup. established authors bring in an older audience.

younker authors bring in their friends from the community who might be bringing in an older author. >> raider has provided a stage for more than 400 writers. it ranges from fiction to academics stories to academic stories this service the underground of queer fell, history, or culture. >> and there are so many different literary circles in san francisco. i have been programming this reading series for nine years. and i still have a huge list on my computer of people i need to carry into this. >> the supportive audience has allowed michele to try new experiment this year, the radar book club. a deep explorationer of a single work. after the talk, she bounces on stage to jump-start the q&a. less charlie rose and more carson daly.

>> san francisco is consistently ranked as one of the most literate cities in the united states. multiple reading events are happening every night of the year, competing against a big names like city arts and lectures. radar was voted the winner of these san francisco contest. after two decades of working for free, michelle is able to make radar her full-time job. >> i am a right to myself, but i feel like my work in this world is eagerly to bring writers together and to produce literary events. if i was only doing my own work, i would not be happy. it is, like throwing a party or a dinner party. i can match that person with that person. it is really fun for me. it is nerve wracking during the

actual readings. i hope everyone is good. i hope the audience likes them. i hope everybody shows up. but everything works out. at the end of the reading, everyone is happy. ♪ >> hello, i am with the recreation and parks department. we are featuring the romantic park location in your backyard. this is your chance to find your heart in santa and cisco with someone special.

-- san francisco with someone special. our first look out is here at buena vista park, a favorite with couples and dog walkers. both have a significant force. a refreshing retreat from urban life. the romantic past that meander up and down the park under pines and eucalyptus. hang out in this environment and you might see butterflies it, fennel, and then the lines. -- dandelions. is ada accessible. public transit is plentiful.

we have conquered the steps, we have watched the dogs, and we have enjoyed a beautiful view. this is a place to take someone special on a romantic stroll and enjoyed a beautiful look out. welcome to corona heights located in the heart of this district. it offers a view of the downtown skyline, the bay bridge, and the east bay. it is one of the best kept secrets in the city. it is hardly ever crowded. on any given day, you will run into a few locals. , bought a 37 bus to get there without any parking worries. for legged friends can run freely. there is also a patch of grass for the small box. >> it is a great place. it is a wonderful place to have

these kinds of parks. that dog owners appreciate it. >> take time to notice of the wildfires that are on the grassland and keep your head out on the lookout for hawks and other bird life. be sure to take your camera and be prepared to take a view of the city will not forget. it has a beautiful red rock formations. you could watch the sunrise over the bay. this is another one of our great lookouts. we are at mount davidson. 928 feet. this is the place for you to bring someone special. to not forget that dogs and enjoy all of the pathways and greenery that surrounds you. it provides a peaceful oasis of

open space and great hiking trails. the spectacular view offers a perfect place to watch the sunrise or sunset with someone you love. >> it is a good place to get away from the hectic life of the city. come up here and listen to nature, i get some fresh air. that view is fantastic. >> where sturdy shoes. hikers get the feeling of being in a rain forest. mount davidson is also a great place to escape the noise and the bustle of the city. take the 36 bus and it will drop you at the entrance. it is quite a hike to the top but the view is worth every step. this is the place to bring that someone special.

golden gate park's largest body of water is an enchanting place. is a popular spot for paddling around in boats, which can be rented. created in 1893, it was designed for these your boating -- for leisure boating. it is named for the wild strawberries that once flourished. there is also a waterfall, two bridges, and trails the climb to the summit, the highest point at more than four hundred feet. you can catch glimpses of the western side of the city that make this hilltop a romantic look out.

for public transit, i take the n train. the lad the ad -- lake is ada accessible. watch many ducks, swans, and siegel's. -- seagulls. it is a great place to stroll and sail away. many couples come here to take a ride around a lake, going under the bridges, passing the chinese pavilion and the waterfall. for a quiet getaway, making for a memorable and magical experience. located on 19th avenue, this growth is the place to where you're hiking boots, bring the family and the dog because it has so much to offer you and

your loved ones. it is a truly hidden gem in the city. the park is rich with eucalyptus trees. long paths allow you to meander, perfect for a dog walking in a wooded environment. >> i enjoy the history. the diversity of nature that exists in such an urban city, concrete streets, cars, we have this oasis of the natural environment. it reminds us of what the history was. >> there is a section for dogs and plenty of parking. transit is available on the 28 bus to get you very easily. the part is ada -- park is ada accessible. it is also a natural lake.

this is your chance to stroll around the lake and let the kids run free. it also has many birds to watch. it is a place to find and appreciate what you -- a wonderful breath of fresh air. come and experience in this park and enjoy the people, picnics, and sunshine. this is a lovely place to take a stroll with your loved ones. in the middle of pacific heights, on top of these hills, it offers a great square, a peaceful beauty, large trees and grass and greenery. it features tables and benches, a playground, restaurants, and tennis courts. there are plenty of areas for football and picnics.

it is very much a couple's park. there are many activities you can experience together. stroll on the pathways, bring your dog, or just picnic at one of the many tables and enjoy all that it has to offer together. many couples find this is a perfect park to throw down a blanket and soak up the sun. it is a majestic place that you can share with someone you chairs. lafayette park is also easily accessed from the 47, 49, and 90 buses. it is ada accessible. we are here at the historic palace of fine art in the marina district. originally built for the 1950's

exposition, the palace is situated on san francisco's number waterfront. it is ada accessible and is reached by the 28, 30, and 91 bus lines. set against the reflecting waters of the lagoon and eucalyptus trees, the palace is one of san francisco post most -- san francisco's most romantic spots to relax with that special someone while listening to the water and gazing at the swans. a beautiful to view from many locations along the mattoon, an ideal place to -- all -- lagoon, an ideal place to walk with a loved one. reservations for weddings are

available at sfrecpark.org. discarding contains plants referred to by william shakespeare's plays and poems. welcome to the shakespeare garden here in the famous golden gate park. located near the museum and the california academy of sciences, the garden was designed by the california spring blossom and wildfilower association. here is a truly enchanting and tranquil garden along a path behind a charming gate. this garden is the spot to woo your date. stroll around and appreciate its unique setting. the gorgeous brick walkway and a

brick wall, the stone benches, the rustic sundial. chaired the part -- share the bard's word hundred famous verses from a shakespearean plays. this is a gem to share with someone special. pack a picnic, find a bench, and enjoy the sunshine, and let the whimsical words of william shakespeare and floats you and your loved one away. this is one of the most popular wedding locations and is available for reservations. take a bus and have no parking worries. shakespeares' garden is ada accessible. located at the bottom of this hill, it is a secret garden with an infinite in captivating appeal. carefully tucked away, it makes

the top of our list for most intimate pyknic setting. avoid all taurus cars and hassles by taking a cable car. or the 30, 45, or 91 bus. the garden was designed by thomas church in 1957. grow old with me, the best is yet to be is inscribed on a sundial. it is anchored by twin white gazebos and flowers that bloom year-round. this is the place to tell someone special or the place to declare the commitment you two share. weddings and the event reservations are available for this adorable hidden gem.

we know there are many other romantic parks in san francisco. we hope you have enjoyed this torre of lookouts, picnics, and strolls that are available every day. until next time, do not forget to get out and play. for more information about reserving one of these romantic locations or any other location, call 831-5500. this number is best for special events, weddings, picnics, and the county fair buildings. or for any athletic field, call 831-5510. you can write us at -- or walk in and say hello.

and of course you can find more information moresfrecpark.org. -- the city of san francisco sfgtv meeting of the san francisco transbay joint powers occurring november 19, 2012 will begin shortly. >> good morning and welcome to

the special transbay point powers authority board of directors meeting. today amonday, november 19th, and could we please take roll call? >> sure, i will note for the record that director harper is joining as ortiz's alternate. and with that, director harper? >> here. >> lloyd. here. >> metcalf. >> here. >> kim. >> here. you do a quar um. >> thank you. are there any communications today? that i am aware of board of directors in more old business? seeing none we can move to the executive director's report. >> good morning directors and members of the public and just a few announcements before we move on for our construction update for today. it is now displayed to the public at the academy of science and that will run for a

number of months. so we would like to thank the california academy for putting on display the mammoth tooth. and we will be looking for a new home in 2013. and finally on october 17th we had number one of our regularly schedule committee meetings to provide a construction update to our neighbors. so everything that moving along well. now to give our construction update with steve turner. >> good morning, directors. steve, ru, with turner construction, construction oversight. i don't know. is that up? there it is. >> another good month, of work or almost a month and a half since we filled you in on the last period. there were no recordable incidents. we did have one near miss. but, brought to light some issues with the excavation process of sight lines and so

that has been dealt with successfully. and allowing the excavator to work while the folks down below were able to position themselves appropriately so they are not in the way of it. we have 550,000 craft hours now, about 60,000 since the last update. 157, chefs, and i will show you the chart for that in a little bit and the excavation continues into zone three, and 1, 2, 3. some of the other activities, have been awarded and submitals have begun. and the final utility, relocation package 4.2, the aux silry package is under way and we will work through the holidays on mission street and will continue on early into 2013 and because we are doing the first levels of excavation in zone three. the archeologists have been on call and on site.

and nothing dramatic yet. and they have trained the operators well in spotting archeologycal finds. coming up in the next 90 days, we will mobilize that below great subcontractor and will start working in ground one on the geothermal packages. they should complete zone three all the way to freemont street which will give them a run through howard on to froe mont street. >> the butresss should continue and should be ahead, estimating 164 by the end of the month. and the micropile program should move into zone two over the next 90 days. >> give you some updates, on the over all schedule, and the time line of the project.

it continues to remain as a october, 2017 completing. and bus operation date. below grade structure will be starting shortly here at the end of the year. and then, of course, the super structure package is out for bid right now. and we expect those bids back in early january. >> what was going to be installed on veteran's weekend it will be installed next year. possibly on president's weekend after more work is completed on zone four and gives more room to work, things are moving along as still originally planned. >> the over all picture, the sight has not changed much, although it gets closer to closer to freemont street. both traffic bridges are in and excavation continues. and here is the excavation map

that the program managers put together the area, of the darkest red area is the deepist, that is the minus 41, 42 foot, that is the bottom of the excavation, that is about 60 feet from the street level and you can see the succession of the bracing as you move from the west to the east towards zone three. you can certainly see the significant amount of change from the left in early october to the photo on the right at the beginning of november, and end of october and the access tressel has progressed further and bracing as well. just to give you an idea of what the quality of bracing actually looks like, we took a shot from the west and looking back. and gives you an idea of how much temporary steel is going into that excavation and its depth and it is quite a project. and for a little bit of scale, there is your average, 6-foot

tall gentleman standing on one of them two-thirds of the way down into the excavation next to the trussle bridge. the micropile progress in zone one, you see the rig there, drilling in the micropile close to the shoring wall underneath all of the bracing. just some more views of the bracing and the excavation as you are looking west along the tresle as long as the lower levels. to give you an idea of what the work is that is going on and the scale and the magnitude of the size of the hole that we are digging. they finally crossed under the first street bridge and this is excavation under that first street bridge. and they will move into the lower levels of shoring there, shortly. and zone three, the central section of the project, both the bracing going in as well as do watering wells. and another shot of that.

and the final demolition as they approach freemont street and have to take out the final wall from the center section of the project. >> the butress area has changed a little bit. if you look closely, we are getting rid of some of the equipment, they are actually in the final third of the work. and down sizing just a little bit as the progress is made on those shafts. the three shafts in yellow have actually been poured out by the end of last week. so, i believe that they are at 157, 159 now, it should be i think that two of those should be poured last week. and so we are zeroing in on the completing. and right on track, is a weekly update here on the production of the shafts and you can see that we were behind the curve in the beginning with just the learning curve of putting the shafts in but we are caught up and projecting a finish on time.

but, it is a quality control, remains in effect on the butress there is coring for checking the structure and that is just the general shot of put ng a rebar cage and the awss work. is the only utility work going on now and as you know we had a little extra activity around halloween and i thought that i would show the photos of the world series, and we are very proud of the giants and some of the players are basically right outside of the job. the budget remains consistent, with the budget, on the construction size. and with the release packages to date. as i said before, a little over 550 craft hours completed and running over 60 percent on the small business or local labor, i am sorry the bay area labor. and here is the break down, san

francisco, continues to contribute about 20 percent of that and the other county surrounding the projects. and these are just a list of the trades. this is a body count of actual any craft's people that have worked on the project since the beginning, we are here with the multiple going on and we are steady. and this is the quality of workers and have logged hours to the project in those classifications. >> thank you. >> this concludes my report. >> the next item is public comment >> and now it is a chance for the public to address what is not on the calendar and rick smith would like to address you. >> and if there are any other members that would like to

address us, if you do just line up. >> at the concerned concern about the elevated parks, while san francisco does not have a compared park there is transforming and programming successful public spaces such as the square and the gardens. as a resident i make use of those spaces for the cleanliness, and safety and a pleasant place to be and i can imagine this elevated park i would go there too, if there were the similar types of experience. i suggest looking at both for their geographic connection to the transbay as well as for their clean, safe and welcoming space, they provide us all. thank you. >> thank you, mr. it