San Francisco!

[Azuah.]

Not hard, you just choose your location, and then put the amount in. Out pops your ticket, and TADA!

[rowlinvale]

But...you're getting on BART at MacArthur or West Oakland?  All I have to say is GOOD LUCK when you're going back home.  I actually go out of my way to not take BART on those stations.  But yeah, their areas are worse than the other two theaters in SF.

Which station would you suggest? I am driving from Sacramento taking 80. So I want to take BART before the Bay Bridge. I don't want to park at an unsafe station...

[rowlinvale]

Not hard, you just choose your location, and then put the amount in. Out pops your ticket, and TADA!

Sweet, thanks. That sounds really simple haha.

[Azuah.]

You stick however much the BART fare is in the machine and then...that's pretty much it.  You also press a button to get the ticket.

But...you're getting on BART at MacArthur or West Oakland?  All I have to say is GOOD LUCK when you're going back home.  I actually go out of my way to not take BART on those stations.  But yeah, their areas are worse than the other two theaters in SF.

one time, I was at the Richmond BART station at like 1am or something.

[rowlinvale]

I think I am driving into the city. I have time to circle the block and look for a spot. I've done it before, it's not too bad.

[julibee]

To be honest I don't know too much about the other stations (at least not for how they are at night), but I don't think that there are any that I would feel so unsafe in that I would go completely out of my way to go to another station. If a 'safer' station is not too far away, then go to it instead, especially if you're not familiar with the area. But I've been in both Berkley and Oakland stations at night and have had no major problems. Just be aware of your surroundings!

Christina, looking on Google maps, maybe you could get on Bart earlier? El Cerrito del Norte stop looks like it's not too far off 80, and it's closer up. Or you could drive into the city. I don't have too much experience with parking in the city (go BART! ) but I'd imagine if you got to SF by 6:45 you'd have time to find a spot. Can anyone back me up on this?

[Azuah.]

We're supposed to get off at Powell right? And then walk to the theatre?

[julibee]

Yep. Get off at Powell and walk up Powell Street until you get to Union Square. Then turn left and walk for two blocks; the theater will be on the left side of the road coming from Union Square.

If you look on satellite mode on Google maps, it'll give you an idea where the theater and BART station are.


And so far I'm planning on going eight times (in addition to the two times i saw it in SD!) Nice b-day present What dates are you going?

[rowlinvale]

To be honest I don't know too much about the other stations (at least not for how they are at night), but I don't think that there are any that I would feel so unsafe in that I would go completely out of my way to go to another station. If a 'safer' station is not too far away, then go to it instead, especially if you're not familiar with the area. But I've been in both Berkley and Oakland stations at night and have had no major problems. Just be aware of your surroundings!

Christina, looking on Google maps, maybe you could get on Bart earlier? El Cerrito del Norte stop looks like it's not too far off 80, and it's closer up. Or you could drive into the city. I don't have too much experience with parking in the city (go BART! ) but I'd imagine if you got to SF by 6:45 you'd have time to find a spot. Can anyone back me up on this?

I'm going to drive into the city. I hope to get there earlier than that even. I'll leave around 3:30, but I know traffic is going to be hell. So we'll see. I've parked downtown before, so I know what to expect. It won't be fun, but, eh.

Did we ever decide how we're going to recognize each other in an interesting way? Or are we all just going to basically find out when we meet with the Street Team peeps?

[Azuah.]

we decided to be boring.

But traffic..isn't there like no traffic getting there? Since everyone is coming HOME from the city..?

[rowlinvale]

we decided to be boring.

But traffic..isn't there like no traffic getting there? Since everyone is coming HOME from the city..?

Yeah, not traffic at the city necessarily. But around my area in Sacramento, rush hour on 50 is always congested from like 3-5. Plus, I always want to give myself extra time in case of traffic accidents and what not.

[rowlinvale]

CRAP. This is the third person to bail on me for tomorrow. =[[[
Looks like I am driving alone.

Dang it, now I probably AM going to take BART. Just because I don't think I can manage reading the directions and driving in the city at the same time. I need my Mapquest buddy in the passenger seat telling me when to turn. SHITTTT.

[Azuah.]

Dang, I wish I knew you enough for it not to be creepy if I volunteered to be your co-pilot.

[rowlinvale]

Dang, I wish I knew you enough for it not to be creepy if I volunteered to be your co-pilot.

HAHA. That was seriously hilarious.
Me too. =[

It's just so frustrating. I keep having people go, "Yeah, alright, I can come."
And then at the last minute go, "Hey, I don't think I can go."

Now I am going to try and beg my sister again. Though she was pretty adamant about not going. What is wrong with these people? I am at this point totally making it free for them. I'm paying gas. I'm paying the bridge fee. Everything. Who would turn away a free ride and a free ticket to Spring Awakening? GAH.

[Azuah.]

Dang, that's hella money.

[julibee]

Three people? Wow, that really sucks. I have a list of people I'd invite if someone cancelled  Too many people who would love it.

But I wouldn't turn down free tickets and a ride to almost anything!

[rowlinvale]

Three people? Wow, that really sucks. I have a list of people I'd invite if someone cancelled  Too many people who would love it.

But I wouldn't turn down free tickets and a ride to almost anything!

Yeah, all in all, I'd say I've invited like 20 people. Haha. 90% of them can't go cause we're in high school. No parent is okay with their 17 year old driving with another 17 year old 2 hours away to see a show in the city. Then driving back at night. Hah. But then there are blokes like one friend of mine. She wants to see the show "badly" but for some reason I don't understand is choosing not to go. And then my sister who just doesn't want to. Whom I will continue to beg all night.

But anyway, I think I've decided that if no one comes with me I will park at the... Richmond BART station? Or the El Cerrito del Norte station. Transferring isn't confusing, right?

[julibee]

There's no reason you'd need to transfer - just get on the Millbrae train (red line), not the Fremont train (orange line). On the way back take the Richmond train. It's pretty easy to tell which train is which; it'll be announced and the line name will be in big, all caps.

[rowlinvale]

There's no reason you'd need to transfer - just get on the Millbrae train (red line), not the Fremont train (orange line). On the way back take the Richmond train. It's pretty easy to tell which train is which; it'll be announced and the line name will be in big, all caps.

Oh, cause here it said I need to transfer at MacCarthur

http://www.bart.gov/schedules/quickplanner.aspx?orig=RICH&addr1=&dest=POWL&addr2=&type=departure&date=9%2F3%2F2008&time=6%3A00+PM

[Azuah.]

I don't think so..

although I do remember trading BARTs at some point...?

[julibee]

Sorry, looks like I was wrong! Good thing you looked it up instead of listening to me, you'd be at the station for a while The Millbrae line stops running at 6:20 pm, so I guess that's out.

But anyways, transfers are very easy. Just board the first train and get off at the transfer point (MacArthur), and then wait for the next train and board it. You don't need any special tickets or transfers. You'll probably have to go downstairs and back up on another platform, but there are plenty of signs around to help you find the line you want. If for some reaon you can't find it, go downstairs and ask one of the BART employees by the gates.

[rowlinvale]

But anyways, transfers are very easy. Just board the first train and get off at the transfer point (MacArthur), and then wait for the next train and board it. You don't need any special tickets or transfers. You'll probably have to go downstairs and back up on another platform, but there are plenty of signs around to help you find the line you want. If for some reaon you can't find it, go downstairs and ask one of the BART employees by the gates.

Good to know, thanks.
So the name of the line I want at the transfer is the "San Francisco Int'l Airport" line?

[rowlinvale]

Oh, and what's the difference between a "scheduled transfer" and a "timed transfer?" The reversed schedule has me at a "timed transfer" while the other was a "scheduled transfer..."

[julibee]

Yep, you'll take the Fremont line to MacArthur, and then transfer to the SFO line. On the way back it'll be the Pittsburg/Baypoint line, and then transfer at MacArthur for the Richmond line.

And I looked up timed and scheduled transfers on the BART site, and here's what I got:

Timed Transfer indicates a timed transfer is required. Connecting trains will wait up to five minutes for transferring passengers.
Scheduled Transfer indicates a scheduled transfer is required. Connecting trains will not wait for transferring passengers if there is a delay

I'm getting that one waits for you, while the other doesn't. They've timed the trains to make it convenient for you to transfer.

[rowlinvale]

Yep, you'll take the Fremont line to MacArthur, and then transfer to the SFO line. On the way back it'll be the Pittsburg/Baypoint line, and then transfer at MacArthur for the Richmond line.

And I looked up timed and scheduled transfers on the BART site, and here's what I got:

Timed Transfer indicates a timed transfer is required. Connecting trains will wait up to five minutes for transferring passengers.
Scheduled Transfer indicates a scheduled transfer is required. Connecting trains will not wait for transferring passengers if there is a delay

I'm getting that one waits for you, while the other doesn't. They've timed the trains to make it convenient for you to transfer.

Okay, thanks so much. I didn't realize they had definitions on the site. Thanks for going to all that trouble. Well it's good to know the later night one will wait five minutes for me to transfer.