A: Brian Belknap, a one man band musician, laughs as Martin, 5, asks about his gold dental crown. Belknap said that interactions like these are the reason he loves playing on the streets. “That won’t happen in a nightclub,” he said.

Essay: When streets emptied as the pandemic began, those who expressed themselves among the crowds passing by no longer had the audience, customers or friends they once did. Some adapted, while others halted what they love. But while the streets died, dreams didn’t. Now, as the streets of San Francisco come alive again, individuals are embracing life as it was pre-pandemic, finding joy in the ability to take back their dreams and express their inner selves. The California Dream is different for everyone. But the streets, bustling once again, are one common factor bringing people together.