Karla Mi Lugo sweetens the streets of SF with song

Le Rouge et Noir and I were in the Lower Haight this past weekend, when we heard the sounds of an accordion, the official instrument of San Francisco, brightening the air.

And then I saw her -



Meet Karla Mi Lugo, a quintessential San Francisco street performer - a creative, free-spirited soul - who can play music and sing and juggle, sometimes all at the same time.



She bought her gorgeous vintage accordion from the same shop where I bought mine, the Accordion Apocalypse.



Ms. Mi Lugo totes her accordion from the Haight, to the Sunset, to the Embarcadero, to Union Square, to the Mission and beyond, all on her trusty steed, her bicycle, of course!



Karla's music and artistry keeps the soul of San Francisco alive. So when you see her, please show her how much you appreciate her by dropping a dollar in her hat, and thanking her for enriching our lives.

stripes take a turn - 1,000th post on Vélo Vogue!

Stripes On Stripes shows us the way!

Onward and upward with fashion!

Allez les vogueuses!

This is the 1,000th post on Vélo Vogue! Merci beaucoup to all our dedicated readers and to all our models, contributors, collaborators, guest bloggers and friends for making this blog so fun to maintain and share with you. Vive le meilleur mode de transport!!!

The Burning Man Cometh

Lots of San Franciscans have already started to make their mass Exodus to the Playa. And their bikes are getting on their burner regalia too. This bike will be a big hit cruising the Esplanade.

Sol Stylin'

On a not so sunny day, I met Sol coincidentally right in front of Cafe du Soleil, one of my favorite SF hangouts (AWESOME pain au chocolat and a nice selection of wines by the glass). It was right after the Holland v. Brazil game. Though not dolled up in World Cup spirit, Sol was chic'ed out from head-to-toe with an ultra-feminine look. Any cyclist wearing a crinoline under her dress gets extra points - going the extra mile to catch some air as she billows down the block. Very Vogue!

KT Rocks The Bike with Adam Pastana

Best part about riding the bike routes in SF is running into your friends just like that. The Wiggle is one of the best places for that to happen, especially when your friend's bike is jammin' out the sweet tunes!

bling a ding ding

My bicycle proposed to me... and I said, "Yes!"

It's the happiest day of my life!

VV Profile: Carlton Evans (or - "Who can resist a boy on a bike?")

Occupation: Director of the Disposable Film Festival

Hometown: Montreal

SF neighborhood: Mission-ish

Helmet or no helmet: I always wear protection

Type of bike: I have three right now: a chrome Bianchi Pista, a 12-speed Bianchi Limited, and this one, which is a 60s Dutch Frame that I've outfitted with cruiser bars and a basket.

Describe what you like best about your bike: Bikes are awesome: they provide efficient, emissions-free transportation, good health, and of course, style. Who can resist a boy or girl on a bike? I like riding my Pista best, but I've become very attached to this big white bike in the picture. I use it to run errands, etc. The basket is really useful. When I have dreams about biking, I'm usually on this one.

Describe your cycling experience in SF: There's such a great bike culture here, and always more people riding. But it can be pretty scary riding at times. The city really needs to get behind biking in the way that other cities have, with more and safer bike lanes, and more areas closed off more often to motor traffic.

Favorite time or place to ride: I love riding to the beach on sunny Sunday afternoons. The ride through Golden Gate park is glorious. I usually stop in at Trouble Coffee for a little energizer when I'm out there.

Favorite color: Red

Artist most frequently played on iPod at the moment: My First Earthquake. Their new record is really fun.

Describe your personal style: I've always admired the mod look from the 60s. I try to base my style on that and kind of build out from there. But stylistically I've always been promiscuous. I've never been able to completely embrace one look.


And seriously, who could resist a smile like that? My camera certainly couldn't. ;-)

VV Profile: Emily Oestreicher

Occupation: Sales Manager for Joie de Vivre's Carriage Inn, Americania Hotel, and Good Hotel

Hometown: Merced, CA

SF neighborhood: Lower Haight

Helmet or no helmet: Helmet

Describe what you like best about your bike: I like that my bicycle is a blue Peugeot from the late seventies. It used to be my Mom's bike and she used to have a seat on the back where I would ride. So, I guess it was my first ever bike and that is why I like it so much.

Describe your cycling experience in SF: I love, love, love not riding my bike on hills. Because of this I thoroughly enjoy studying my bike map always trying to find different, out of the way routes to my destinations. I also like riding down alleys in my neighborhood where there are lots of trees overhead and that makes shadows on the cement. I like that a lot.

Favorite color: I would say grey and bright yellow at the moment

Artist most frequently played on iPod at the moment: Blind Pilot and Antonio Carlos Jobim

Describe your personal style: My personal style must be a mix of pretty girly with a little messy aspect or pretty messy with a girly aspect.

Vélo Vogue tip of the day: I like to twist my hair up in a bunch of pins and then put on my helmet. That way when I arrive to work there has been no hair-wind damage and it's even a little curly. Also, try to have cooler bicycle outfits than your boss (if they also ride their bike to work).

And a special note from Emily about her bike-friendly hotel:

At the Good Hotel we have started our bicycle borrowing program. We purchased two bicycles (to start with) from the non-profit Pedal Revolution. We just have guests sign a waiver, supply them with all the locks, lights, and maps to get around and they are able to use the bicycles free of charge as long as they are available. The bikes are very popular and I hope to see this type of program take off in all 16 of our properties in San Francisco.

We also have a bike rack for guests as well as the bicycle map framed on the wall.

Thanks for your hand in promoting bike-friendly tourism in SF, Emily! Here's a pic of my pal Marisol recently riding one of the Good Hotel's gorgeous black rent-a-bikes.

VV Profile: Marie-Lyse

Name: Marie-Lyse Paquin
Occupation: Product Manager
Neighborhood: Lower Haight
Hometown: Montréal, Québec
Favorite Color: Green
Favorite City Besides San Francisco: Paris
Difference between riding in San Francisco and Montréal: In both cities, there's not enough space to park your bike. And in Montréal you still can't turn right on a red light.
Describe Your Style: Northern Style! I still dress like Montréal!
Vélo Vogue Fashion Tip: Dress in layers (at least 3)!

faire les courses en vélo

I was sipping a glass of Côtes du Rhône at Cafe du Soleil avec Marie-Lyse, when I saw this cyclist zip by carrying a cargo load of groceries. She made riding up Fillmore look not only easy with her front basket and rear pannier but also stylish in a pair of plaid flats. Seeing her running her errands en vélo like that reminded me of all the fantastic merchants in SF who offer discounts to SF Bicycle Coalition members (who arrive on their bikes).

i love haighters

Here's a lesson on how to turn left while looking incredibly hip in the Lower Haight.

First, dye your hair orange. Then jump into some short shorts and hop on your bike.


To keep your legs and arms warm in case the fog rolls in, slip into some legwarmers and fingerless 3/4 length gloves. Make a left turn signal.



Make sure to look for oncoming traffic when you cross the intersection (also scanning the Wiggle for other cuties en vélo.)


A unique style in a unique part of town. I simply love the Haight!

night riders

Grace and her posse were cruising the Lower Haight last Friday when I ran into them after my final-final at Molotov's. She and her friends can be seen riding around most weekend nights, equipped with a party bike that not only glows in the dark, but plays tunes.


When we convened for a stop-and-chat in front of Mythic Pizza, I learned that her friends are associated with Rock the Bike, which reminded me that I had once seen these glowsticks for bikes on their website (and coveted them). Grace is the producer of the Bicycle Film Festival and had one of its postcards intertwined in her spokes. The film festival is on this weekend in San Francisco, and it looks like there are some cool films, so check it out!

Grace and her glowing friends represent that creative spirit that is synonymous with San Francisco bike culture, bringing awareness of the joy of cycling with style and inventiveness. Hurrah!