Bolinas, the artists’ town, and the poem that inspired AI overlords

I think, I mean, to preface this, we recently went to visit Bolinas.

It's a small town in North Bay in Marin, and it has a very unique history that I think very few people, especially our age, know about.

And we would love to dive deeper into all the ways that it was very unique for its time and how it's connected to the modern day ideas.

How would you describe Bolinas to someone who's never been there?

It's a small coastal town.

A lot of people are surfing.

Um, it's very relaxed.

There is, like, one saloon, one big grocery store, one very pretty church, maybe several churches actually.

It's located very close to Point Reyes, but it's very distinct.

Bolinas is really bohemian.

And, uh, yeah, again, very, very small, very rich history, and it's a fun drive from San Francisco.

There are certain music events from time to time at Smiley's, which is, I think, somehow associated with Tom Waits.

Oh.

I'm, I mean, I'm not that surprised.

It makes sense.

I just somehow didn't hear this piece of lore.

Yeah, I think Smiley's is connected to Tom Waits, and-

And Joe Brainard stayed there, by the way.

He refers to Smiley's several times in his journal in, from 1971.

Yeah, and, uh, it's basically just a very nice day trip.

So that's, yeah, for someone who haven't-

That's an excellent way, way of the wind.

I would add that I read in the foreword to the anthology that the author called it mesmerizingly gorgeous, and I think that's exactly the right combination of words to put in mind the just dazzling natural beauty of Bolinas that is really overwhelming.

It's, it's so close overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and you feel so connected to nature.

It just really formed the daily life there in a very different way.