851 is a candlelit reading series in Lower Haight
851 is a monthly reading series (dubbed by City Lights Bookstore as “by far, one of the most exciting reading series in San Francisco”) hosted by Janey Smith, located in a derelict apartment in Lower Haight lit entirely by tea lights, votives, and those Saint candles you can get at the grocery store.
Published writers from all over the country have stepped up to the event space’s dirt stage to deliver their works to crowds of up to 100 literary fans.
We spotted some great looks at the last event, held on Monday, January 21st, and snap interviewed some of San Francisco’s stylish literati. Photos are courtesy of Joe Carrow.
Kaitlyn describes her personal style as “vintage inspired.” She doesn’t think about a specific aesthetic when she shops, preferring to buy awesome pieces over whole outfits.
San Francisco style is varied, Kaitlyn says, an attribute she admires. “You can get dressed up without sticking out like a sore thumb. It makes people watching so fun.” Her favorite place to people watch is on the bus (the 5 line).
When asked what she was thinking when she got dressed that day, Kaitlyn replied: “how many colors and patterns can I put on without being ridiculous?”
Jow (pictured right) and Jesse (pictured left), regulars at the 851 reading series, respectively describe their style as “blogger” and “installation.” They agree that the San Francisco style scene is “trite and passé”.
Asked what they thought when getting dressed that day, Jesse said: “I thought about which shoes I was gonna wear.”
Jow said: “I was going to wear another hat but I was mud wrestling and I got dirty. Mud doesn’t come easily off of neon.”
Jesse added, “I actually waited until I saw what Jow was gonna wear. I thought about wearing a brown leather jacket, but Jow was already wearing a leather jacket.”
Vintage meets the ’80s is the look Carleen tends to go for. She says the SF look is different, “like grunge/hippie/hipster, but it’s not that different from Los Angeles.”
Carleen, a poet, was one of the six readers who performed that night along with Cameron Pierce, Ross E. Lockhart, Kate Robinson, Kirsten Alene, and Wonder Dave.
Asked what went through her mind when she got dressed that day, she replied: “I was thinking I would like to wear a skirt, but it’s cold out so I should wear leggings. I would have worn my Jeffrey Campbells, but I probably would have fallen over.”
“Wanna be frilly” is Kim‘s style preference, and she thinks the people of the city are very colorful in the way that they dress.
When asked what she thought as she got dressed that day, Kim said: “I feel frickin cold so I want something warm and fuzzy. But it’s hot in here so I’m burning up!”
Liza (pictured far right) describes her style as “this and that, whatever people have in their closet that I can steal, stuff I can find for two dollars, and sometimes I like to go on eBay and virtually caress unique pieces.” We really loved her heavy coat with fur trim.
The look in San Francisco is “like everything. There’s a big influence on tech-y and burner stuff.”
When asked what went through her mind as she got dressed for the day, Liza said: “I was thinking it was nice out today, but I’m going to get cold, so I’m going to try to pretend that I’m practical, but I’m not practical at all.”