Apr 6, 2012 6:30 AM

Gallery: San Francisco's Characters Find a Home in Photo Column

Mike Kepka
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*Parked in their usual window seat at Uncle Vito's, just below the crest of Nob Hill, Marion and Vivian Brown chat up an adoring tourist from Phoenix and a businessman from New York City.* *Photo: Mike Kepka*
Mike Kepka
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*Scotty Grabell, aka Scotty Blue Bunny the freelance rabbit.* *Photo: Mike Kepka*

Mike Kepka
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*Dressed in a sasquatch suit, Leslie Hensley lurks about on the branches of a sprawling tree in the middle of Golden Gate Park.* *Photo: Mike Kepka*
Mike Kepka
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*Renée de la Prade plays a rare button accordion for tourists and commuters in front of the Ferry Building.* *Photo: Mike Kepka*

Mike Kepka
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*The day after the real Britney Spears was scheduled to grace the Castro, Curtis Huber came to claim her lifeless wax body from the window front of an AIDS benefit shop called "Under One Roof."* *Photo: Mike Kepka*
Mike Kepka
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*After running a zigzag course through the docks on Fisherman's Wharf and up and down the hills near Lombard Street, Norman Wheatley proudly lifts a cup of Full Sail with 90 of his closest buddies.* *Photo: Mike Kepka*

Mike Kepka
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*Harry Denton lives only two or three blocks up the hill from his infamous Starlight room in the Sir Francis Drake Hotel.* *Photo: Mike Kepka*
Mike Kepka
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*His name is Al. He goes to the Brainwash Cafe nearly every night for the free entertainment. But Albert Blais doesn't just watch -- he aims to become part of the experience.* *Photo: Mike Kepka*

Mike Kepka
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*Casey Castille, dressed in an outfit she threw together with scraps of leather just before the show, loosened up her limbs on the dance floor during "The Caveman" theme night at the Hubba Hubba Revue.* *Photo: Mike Kepka*
Mike Kepka
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*International Red, 59, who has spent the past 15 years honing his sales techniques on the streets of San Francisco, makes his rounds in the downtown area with a set of new watches.* *Photo: Mike Kepka*

Mike Kepka
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*John Trujillo's broom stands still in front of Farley's Coffee, where he used to sweep every day for years until he passed away.* *Photo: Mike Kepka*
Mike Kepka
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*Donald "Focuz" Harris sits in the back seat of the 1997 Geo he had been using as a base of operations since the fall of 2010.* *Photo: Mike Kepka*

Mike Kepka
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*Anthony Caldwell and Anna, the 6-year-old green iguana he found on Craigslist, attract attention on their way to work at Maitri-Compassionate Care, a residential care facility for people living with AIDS.* *Photo: Mike Kepka*
Mike Kepka
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*Once victory seems certain, Coral Flame throws her arms up after a wrestling match at "Go Deep," an all-women lube wrestling night sponsored by Dottie Lux's Red Hots on the first Thursday of the month at El Rio.* *Photo: Mike Kepka*

Mike Kepka
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*Framed by his empty television set, Janor Hypercleets, aka Mr. TV, adjusts his tie, ready for prime time. The stage has been set. Hipsters on Valencia Street are the audience. Hypercleets is the producer, writer, actor and ticket seller for his own television show. He uses props, puppets and comedy to tell truths about society he claims only "The Fool" could be capable of.* *Photo: Mike Kepka*
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*"I think we are all weird in our own way." —Mike Kepka* *Photo: Jane Tyska*