We *should* be fine on the south sidewalk area where we usually dance, and that’s where we’ll try to set up first.  But please be forewarned that (1) we may have to move LitP to an alternate location (probably somewhere in the middle of the Music Concourse); and (2) you may find it difficult to cross JFK Drive at times during the race.

According to the race organizers “Non-race observers will be able to cross the street at several designated areas with the guidance of our volunteers”.  So hopefully, regardless of where LitP ends up, it won’t be too difficult for people coming from the north side of the park to cross JFK Dr. during the race.  Another option is for people to use the north tunnel to go underneath JFK Drive to get to LitP.

Two other quick announcements:
1. KGO-ABC 7 is coming to LitP this Sunday to film a feature about LitP which will air during the week before Mother’s Day.

2. The free beginner swing dance lesson moves to a new earlier time, 12:00pm (noon)-12:30pm.

Hope to see you at the park!  -Ken

In an ongoing effort to improve Lindy in the Park, beginning May 4, 2008, the swing dance lesson will move to an earlier time (30 minutes earlier) and take place every Sunday 12:00pm-12:30pm, weather permitting.

Please tell your friends and help spread the word!

Thanks,
Ken Watanabe
Lindy in the Park organizer, co-founder, DJ

We’ll see you there.

See you out there!

Chad Kubo: For lending his gas generator.
Hep Jen: For lending her mixer-amp, speakers, speaker stands, and CD player.
Jeff Eldridge & the San Diego Lindy hoppers: For taking up a collection in San Diego at their “Lindy by the Bay” event and donating the proceeds to LitP.
Joe & Heidi (New York): For contributing to LitP even though they’ve never even been to LitP (but we hope they will someday soon).
JP O’Connor: For supplying us with fancy new yellow LitP signs.
Michael Martin: For shuttling me around to shop for new sound equipment.
Rachel Donovan & Jeff Yih: For raising over $900 in donations at LitP LITE on Thanksgiving day alone!
Steve Prince: For helping me load, unload, transport, setup, and break down all the sound equipment for the last 5 Sundays and for shuttling me around to shop for a new hand cart.
Alex Yan (Seattle), Clark Breyman, Mike Daniele, Peter Mansfield, and Trish Richman: For their extremely generous donations!
Everyone Else Who Donated: For contributing to LitP and making it all possible.

It means a lot to know that so many people enjoy and care about Lindy in the Park.  As noted above, we received donations from all over the country, from as far away as New York, all the way down to San Diego, and as far north as Seattle.  And, for me,  the fact that Lindy in thePark is entirely funded, supported, and organized by the swing dance community for the swing dance community, makes it such a wonderfully unique and special event–one which I am pleased to be a part of.

With all of the generous contributions from so many people, I’m am happy to report that we have raised enough money to replace all, and, with certain items, even upgrade, the sound equipment stolen in November.  With your wonderful support, I am confident that Lindy in the Park will continue to thrive for many years to come.

Thank you again,
Ken Watanabe
Lindy in the Park co-founder, organizer, DJ
ken@lindyinthepark.com

From all of us at Lindy in the Park, we wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy holiday.

Drink responsibly if you’re driving, yada, yada, yada!

We’ll see you next Sunday, weather permitting!

(More photos under Photos-2007 - enjoy!)

In case you haven’t heard yet, my car, along with most of my swing music collection and the LitP sound system which were inside my car, was stolen late? Sunday night on the 18th of November). I have filed a police report, but I have not yet heard from them with any new information.? My car insurance will cover the car itself, but it will not cover the other items (As Laura Palermo has already pointed out, renter’s insurance or home owner’s insurance normally covers the loss of items inside a stolen car). Unfortunately, I do not have renter’s or home owner’s insurance.

And again, YES, there WILL be a Lindy in the Park this Sunday (11/25) as usual–same place, same time. Jen has been gracious enough to loan us her own sound equipment and CD collection, Chad Kubo will be loaning us his generator, and Burnie will be letting us use his wireless mic. And thanks to the generosity of Michael Martin, Trish Richman, and others, we’ve got everything else we need to pull it off, and we hope to see all of you out in full swing.

If you would like to help support LitP, any donation, however large or small, would be greatly appreciated. There are two ways to donate:

1. Online
We have set up a PayPal account for online donations. You may send donations via PayPal (http://www.paypal.com) to the following Email address: “lindyintheparkdonations@hepjen.com”

2. In Person
You may also contribute with cash or check (payable to Ken Watanabe) at Lindy in the Park on Sundays. Simply deposit your donation in the red bucket or red collection box.

All donations will go to directly towards Lindy in the Park to replace the equipment that was lost. As you probably know, Lindy in the Park has always been a community-supported event, run completely by volunteers with equipment paid entirely by donations collected over the years from the Lindy Hop community. I feel this is one of the things which makes Lindy in the Park so unique and special, and one of the reasons why I enjoy organizing Lindy in the Park so much. The lost LitP equipment is really the community’s loss, but together as a community, we will rebuild, and Lindy in the Park will continue to thrive for years to come.

Thank you for the enormous support we’ve already received from so many of you: your kind words, offers of all kinds of equipment, and donations to help replace what was lost (Rachel and Jeff were already able to collect over $500 at the special Lindy in the Park LITE on Thanksgiving day–Thanks guys!).

Again, thank you all,
Ken Watanabe
Lindy in the Park organizer, co-founder, DJ
ken@lindyinthepark.com