How Berkeley Can You Be? Parade, Sept. 30, 2007

Clipping from the East Bay Express Newspaper, September 26-October 2, 2007.


Bao, Anh-Vu and I went to this year's "How Berkeley Can You Be? Parade" just to take pictures of people dressing up in colorful and weird costumes. We were on the bus riding by on the other side of the parade when we spotted a small group of Berkeley Library's people. We got off to take their pictures and were drafted into carrying signs advertising the library's new card designs. They called out: "Hey! You guys, join us, we need help here! Here, help us carry these signs." So we joined in and had fun chanting: "Show us your library card!" "Use us!, Use us! Use us!" "We have tie dye cards!"





Bao was shy so he was kind of walked on the sideline, but Anh-Vu was really great in giving free advertising for the library: "Who needs Barnes and Nobles!" "We have Wi-Fi!" "Use the Berkeley Public Library!" "We are free!" Anh-Vu is usually quiet and reserved, but the parade really loosened him up, and it was nice to see.



We got lots of clapping from spectators, and it felt good to know that Berkeley people truly like their libraries.





I have heard some people say that Berkeley invented tie dye shirts. I don't know if it is true or not. One thing is clear though, there were lots of tie dye shirts that day.









































There were quite a few men in skirts at the parade.











I tried not to take more pictures of the Art Cars, but this one was new. Last year attraction was the Gargoyle car, but this year the Lobster and Fish Car had its day in the sun. These lobsters and the fishes could move and dance to the music, and made lots of people laugh. Wasn't that a wild car? HowBCUBe Parade was wild and fun, but wait!!! There were no naked people this year. Humm! Berkeley banned them from the parade? Watch out! These "like to be naked people" might sue the city for violated their "Free Speech."