Lindy in the Park
Category: Active Life [Edit]
Golden Gate ParkJohn F Kennedy Dr, between 8th and 10 Ave
San Francisco, CA 94121
- Good for Kids: Yes
17 reviews
Neighborhood: Outer Sunset
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11 Reviews for Lindy in the Park
This is a great outlet for various Swing Dancers around SF.
Its in Golden Gate Park on the Bridge right by the De Young museum on Sunday mornings.
You can participate, or just watch (as many people do).
I have seen some AMAZING dancers here that I have not seen anywhere else.
Hep Jen teaches an excelent beginners class here and DJ Ken Watanabe plays music with various tempos.
Did I mention that its free?
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I heart Lindy in the Park so much I take 2 trains or a bus and a train or two buses to get there. If only it were closer to my house! I can't believe there's only 10 reviews. If you have the slightest curiosity or inclination to dance in the great outdoors with fun folks, don't wait another minute - come on down, it's Sunday!
Lindy in the Park is a nice outdoor swing dance in Golden Gate Park on JFK between 8th and 10th (near the de Young Museum). It's free. 11am to 2pm-ish. There's a free dance lesson at 12:30pm.
A number of folk regularly drive from various place around the bay (East Bay, South Bay, and some from Sacramento at times) to dance here.
Come to dance or just watch. One of the many great opportunities to enjoy dancing in the Bay Area.
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My roommate and I went to check out Lindy in the Park last week and had SUCH a good time. The instructors are friendly and energetic, and they repeat the steps just enough so that you catch on but don't get bored. We thought you had to bring a dance partner, but you end up in a big circle, trading off.
I like swing because it's good clean fun. You encounter significantly less sketchy guys trying to get up on you than you would at the club. Everyone here is just out to enjoy the weather and have a good time. Highly recommend!
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There was a time when I spent practically almost every. Sunday. here. The schedule would be as follows:
Sunday morning:
2:30am - arrive back in Berkeley from SF from a night of dancing at the Doghouse, and more dancing (plus fries & shakes) at Mel's
10:30am - pick up friend in lower Berkeley and head over to to SF
11am - arrive at LitP in time to see Ken and/ or Dave and/or Chad setting up
11am-2pm - dance. socialize. mingle. dance some more.
2:30pm - head over to Crepevine on Irving for brunch with at least 7-12 other people.
Memories
-First "lindy exchange" -- Chicago comes to SF
-Dancing in snow! (Yes, it snowed in GGP one December!... or was it January?)
-300+ dancers at the bandshell for Frankie Manning's 85th b-day
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In all seriousness, LitP is a labor of love by some of the best, friendliest, most community-minded folks around who love to dance and love to spread the love of Lindy Hop to everyone. Though I haven't been in years (ironically enough, I stopped going when I moved to SF in '99 -- 4 blocks away from LitP) this event will always hold a special spot in my heart.
Now that I and my fiance are moving to the sunset - 1.5 blocks away from LitP, we may just have to pay a visit.
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I love it, love it, love it. This is a staple in my life and was before I even moved the city. I COMMUTED for this! I've met some amazing people and dancers here, some of whom are close friends. Naomi is an awesome DJ and when it's sunny out, I'm reminded of why I wanted to live in the city in the first place. It has to be something uber important to make me miss LitP. And no a hangover generally doesn't count.
Come one come all. Free lesson at 12:30 and if you want to dance just ask! I'll dance with pretty much anyone who asks! If it's your first time, get in the jam!
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If I have kids, I'll be able to tell them I danced in the snow. In San Francisco. And they'll be all, "Daddy, what's snow?"
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One of the pleasures of living in SF. Free lindy GG Park?! "Hep Jen" is a great teacher too btw. Wish I could make it there more often!
LitP is sooooo cool it almost makes me pee in my pants. 'Cause who says all Black people can dance? Yes, I can boogie, do the funky chicken, the freak and the jerk. I can shimmy, electric slide and even Roger Rabbit. But after lo these many years and a handful of lessons, swing dancing still eludes me. And that's where Lindy in the Park comes in. Free swing lessons, surrounded by so many people having fun in the sun that you can't help but pick up the steps. Half an hour last Sunday and I was damn near doing the Charleston!
So here's the deal. Every Sunday, from 11 to 2, this super cool crew sets up a sound system in the heart of Golden Gate Park, on JFK Drive by the DeYoung, just to spin for a big crowd of dance happy fools. And at 12:30 there's a half-hour lesson for newbies like me. One of those deals where they teach you a few steps and then you try them with your partner. They teach you a few more steps and you switch and then try them with a new partner. Round and round with laughing cool people who are very forgiving of folks who can boogie, but have two left feet when it comes to partner dance.
The lesson was taught by the appropriately named Hep Jen and LitP co-founder Ken Watanabe. Every week they teach you a different little somethin'-somethin'. After the lesson they do a special dance for all the birthday folks and out-of-towners. Then it's move to the groove and meet cool folks till you just can't swing no more.
And did I mention that it's all FREE?! No reason not to keep heading back. Heck, soon I'll be an intermediate.
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Yep, it's still happening. They had their 11th anniversary celebration in August, and it was FUN. A great venue for those who like to swing dance, want to learn to swing dance, or just feel like listening to a good variety of swing tunes while watching some amazing (and in my case, not so amazing) dancers. There's a free beginner lesson at 12:30, no partner necessary. Ken Watanabe and "Hep Jen" are really nice, and make newcomers feel welcome. They have photos on their website: http://www.lindyinthep...
Holy Shit! Is this STILL happening?!
This is where the "SF Steal" was perfected....
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