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San Francisco's proposal to ban nude dining—and the simultaneous revelation that San Francisco apparently approves of nude everything but dining—has given the entire world another reason to dismiss SF as the city of nuts and flakes, where throngs of nude diners roam the streets, demanding to press their moist parts against seats that will later cup unsuspecting members of the public, perhaps even you, perhaps even your children!
Won't somebody please think of the children?
But really, down here on the ground, you barely ever see a naked person. It's cold here. Foggy. Other than random crazies, the Folsom Street Fair, and this annual race we have with a big contingent of nude drunks, the only people you regularly see naked are a group of dudes in the Castro neighborhood. The naked people are, as Scott Reed of Castro restaurant The Cove puts it, "Just a bunch of radical/commune types, and they mostly stay in the park sunning themselves."
Reed says he's never had a nude diner come in and ask for service, though he is accustomed to seeing dudes in chaps and nothing underneath around Folsom time. "Tempest in a teapot," he says of the nude fracas. "I'd rather the supervisors spend time on other stuff."
Reed's customers might be more or less clothed, but other Castro restaurants see their share of nude diners. Burger joint Orphan Andy's has even designated its outdoor tables the "zone of nakedness" (which, incidentally, would be a great band name).
According to the Castro Courier, local police have been getting complaints about the naked guys for a while now, and local supervisor Scott Wiener says he introduced the proposal after receiving gripes from constituents. And also, as the San Francisco Chronicle's City Insider blog reports, Wiener himself had a fidgety dinner recently alongside a table of nudists.
"When I proposed this, I knew it would get attention, but I never thought it'd get international attention," says Wiener, sounding understandably weary of the topic. "In San Francisco there is no local law on public nudity; we're guided by the California penal code that does not prohibit nudity unless you're doing something lewd, like being aroused."
So for now, it's legal to plop your nude ass down wherever it wants to sit in San Francisco. But if Wiener has his way (and judging from the lack of local opposition, it looks like he will), in public places like restaurants all you'll have to do is put something down on the seat before lowering your nether parts into it.
"I think this is a very San Francisco way of addressing it," says Wiener. Yes, Supervisor—with a towel.
Image source: Flickr member Jeremy Brooks under Creative Commons
I have an unexpected opportunity to be in SF for this years B2B race. As a true nudist, I hope to log several miles touring SF walking nude along various routes I have planned that avoid schools and parks. After careful inquiry with SFPD, I believe I have a clear understanding of the law regarding public nakedness and have prepared my attire in the most responsible, courteous manner. I hope to...+READ
I have an unexpected opportunity to be in SF for this years B2B race. As a true nudist, I hope to log several miles touring SF walking nude along various routes I have planned that avoid schools and parks. After careful inquiry with SFPD, I believe I have a clear understanding of the law regarding public nakedness and have prepared my attire in the most responsible, courteous manner. I hope to show a healthy, polite way of being nude in SF. I can not thank the people of SF enough for their acceptance of the freedom to be nude. If you happen to encounter me hiking the streets of SF, by all means say hello, I am a friendly nudist. I hope to tour a large portion of SF walking in the buff, weather permitting, outside of the Castro district. If you wish for me to cover up, sign me with a motion of tipping your hat and I will tip my hat and cover as I pass. I enjoy being naked more than I can really explain, but if I arrive somewhere and plan to visit awhile, I am sensitive to the folks around me and if I need to, I would dress to be able to socialize. I do find that being nude can isolate one from regular folks. I too though, am a regular guy, except for the nude thing. I am mostly used to solo hiking in the Angeles National Forest and rarely see anyone. I would be exhilarated to walk nude through San Francisco and experience that absolute freedom.
It is a shame that a few ruin the wholesomeness of the feeling of being naked outdoors. I can however, understand how it can be viewed as having sexual intent, seems folks have trouble separating nudity and sex. What someone is really thinking can’t be determined, so what becomes most important, is the choice of behavior. I am sure most adults, men and women, know that male arousal can happen unexpectedly at any time. If a cool breeze, the motion of walking itself, someone’s comment or just needing to urinate, triggers an involuntary moment of arousal, it is the "choice of behavior" that truly shows ones intentions. If the person covers with a hat or carrying bag until no erection is present, it demonstrates courteous, responsible nudism. Of course, continuing to parade around at full staff…..we can agree exhibitionism is the intent. Exhibitionism, as a safe sex outlet for some can still be enjoyed with consent and respect, but take it to a more private area at least. I've always tried to describe to my daughter, that the joy I feel being nude is very much like a giggling baby boy slipping out of a wet diaper and waddling off. Think of this: How you would feel in a small plane at 10,000 feet with a parachute on your back leaning out the door of the plane about to take the leap? Your heart’s beating quite bit, I imagine. That’s the thrill I feel, exciting yes, exhilarating yes, crazy, yes and yes! Sexual? Not for me at least.
When you know you’re not misbehaving and staying within the laws guidelines, you can totally relax and enjoy the wholesome, primal freedom to the utmost degree. It’s simple really, just choose the appropriate behavior. Granted the weather is not the most suitable, but I must admit that considering public nudity is OK in S.F., I find it hard to believe more folks don’t try it. So once again, I hope to log several miles training for that nude walk in the race by touring the streets in the buff Thursday thru Saturday. Assuming of course, that all goes well with my feet, and that my understanding of the law is accurate. Thank you again!-COLLAPSE
I am a proud gay nudist and I am in no way ashamed to be totally naked showing off my very hairy naked body to anyone, anywhere. I was born naked, have the desire to be naked every where I can do so because that is ME!! I don't tell others how to live their lives so don't judge me as a
Proud naked Queer nudist. Right on for the cause of Gay Public Nudity & nudity in general every where.
...+READ
I am a proud gay nudist and I am in no way ashamed to be totally naked showing off my very hairy naked body to anyone, anywhere. I was born naked, have the desire to be naked every where I can do so because that is ME!! I don't tell others how to live their lives so don't judge me as a
Proud naked Queer nudist. Right on for the cause of Gay Public Nudity & nudity in general every where.
Kimmer Boggs-COLLAPSE
Why would this be permitted anywhere, except the privacy of your own home or a nudist camp? If a man was naked save for a coat covering his nethers, then removed the coat in front of women & children, exposing his nethers, he'd be arrested & charged with public indecency. Yet these guys wear no covering, thereby exposing thier nethers to any woman or child that might be in the area, and it's...+READ
Why would this be permitted anywhere, except the privacy of your own home or a nudist camp? If a man was naked save for a coat covering his nethers, then removed the coat in front of women & children, exposing his nethers, he'd be arrested & charged with public indecency. Yet these guys wear no covering, thereby exposing thier nethers to any woman or child that might be in the area, and it's deemed perfectly okay because it's naked dining. Yeah, that makes sense.-COLLAPSE
I was at one of these SF restaurants once when a naked guy was there as well.
No problems until he went to pull out his credit card ...
SanFran has been described as 46.7 square miles surrounded by reality. What are these people thinking? Are these people thinking? Plus there are some bodies that just need to be covered.
I don't really mind public nudity, I wouldn't do it, but that's just me. In my opinion, it takes the mystery away from your fellow man. LOL I do, however, think it should be a requirement to bring a towel to sit on. It's gross to sit where somebody's stinky butt has been, then go home and sit on your own furniture. YUCK
Having visited a "clothing optional" commune, I observed that all the participants carried towels around with them to sit on. I was told this was standard etiquette among nudists and naturists.
@Querencia
Yep. That's pretty much our year-round temperature. Reasonably pleasant in the winter and depressing as possible in the summer. And the only option? Exile to SoCal or the suburbs. Brr.
It is odd how this is the second time in recent history that a man named "Wiener" has been in the news for something involving nudity. You'd think they would be more careful about that sort of...+READ
@Querencia
Yep. That's pretty much our year-round temperature. Reasonably pleasant in the winter and depressing as possible in the summer. And the only option? Exile to SoCal or the suburbs. Brr.
It is odd how this is the second time in recent history that a man named "Wiener" has been in the news for something involving nudity. You'd think they would be more careful about that sort of thing.-COLLAPSE
Just sit on a towel please an please take it with you when you leave
Every time I have ever been in San Francisco no matter what the time of year the temperature has been about 55. If somebody wants to go naked in that, dinner or not, I say, God bless.
Wiener, penal code... this story is rich with colloquialisms.
I eat out 3 nights a week in SF for the past 10 years and NEVER have I seen a naked person in any restaurant. If you're wandering around into the "Zone of Nakedness" then that's your own problem lol.
thats really nasty. why do these people NEED to be naked in public and around food.. yuk!!!
Can't do the nude bit because of skin cancer problems. I know wear sunscreen but it doesn't always work the best. I did a lot of sailing in the Mariana Islands when sunscreen didn't exist and now my skin pays the price. My imagination works full time with clothes on anyway.
'Hanging out with your buddies' , takes on a new meaning.
I won't even sit on my own sofa nude without a blanket under me. Gross.
As much as people are taxed there, it' a wonder more people are not walking around naked.
Reminds me of an ill-fated birthday outing at Baker Beach with my inlaws...