Comments on: 9 Wonderful Local Characters

By: Endorphin Annie

Endorphin Annie — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:43:00 +0000

I’m from the SF Bay Area, so it made me really happy to see the bushman- it almost seems like that guy has just always been there. It’s nice to just sit and watch him at work on a nice day!

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 02:53:00 +0000

Once while I lived in california the family decided to take a trip to fisherman’s wharf. Well needless to say we saw the bushman and he scared the shit out of us. About five minutes later we were in tears with laughter and my grandmother peed her pants from laughing so hard… I heard he had passed away though :(

By: grover

grover — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 04:55:00 +0000

The Flower Lady of New Haven, CT.

She would stand near restaurants trying to sell flowers for a dollar. The proceeds ostensibly went towards her lunchtime sandwich.

At one point she even had a delightfully creative song to accompany her sales pitch. It went:

Would you liiiike
to buy a flowerrrr
so I can get sOMething
to Eaaaat?

By: KellyL.

KellyL. — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 01:38:00 +0000

In Wheeling, WV, we have a local character that goes by the name of Moondog, who rides a bike with various flags attached to the back and wears a hard hat and fireman’s jacket. He sees himself as a super hero who patrols the city of Wheeling, keeping the citizens safe. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked out of a bar, and there will be Moondog, escorting people with a flashlight across a dark street. He also is the last rider in the city Christmas parade every year and hands out candy to the kids. He’s a legend in this town.

You can check out Myspace, where a fansite has been set up in his name.

By: Zelda

Zelda — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:53:00 +0000

How very very sad about Tuba Man…he just liked playing his tuba… = (

By: chrilew

chrilew — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:17:00 +0000

Yay Leslie shoutout! i was going to myself!
I actually have the magnets on my fridge.

By: Jonco

Jonco — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:56:00 +0000

I’ve seen Baton Bob at a few parades and festivals in St. Louis. I knew I hadn’t seen him for quite a while (didn’t realize he had moved to Atlanta).
I’ve never seen Beatle Bob, but then I don’t go to too many concerts.
Nice article! Thanks!

By: Charlie

Charlie — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:27:00 +0000

Leslie is the crossdressing perpetual mayoral candidate in Austin, Texas. they like to say, “Keep Austin Weird” and Leslie is definately doing his/her part.

By: harold

harold — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:41:00 +0000

Has anyone heard of Chicago’s famous ChickenMan?

By: Alicia

Alicia — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:27:00 +0000

We had someone in Madison, WI named Scanner Dan that would roam the main street near campus. I wonder if he’s still there…