While on the 1-California last week to see Muni Manners at Pecha Kucha, I snapped a picture of this curious ad:
“Marley & Ro — Muni: A Dining Adventure at Every Stop.”
Is this a new PR campaign by the SFMTA, now that CultureBus is no more?
I checked out Marley & Ro’s website and also found another picture of the mysterious (to me anyway) ad campaign on a bus shelter. More after the jump.
From the Marley & Ro website it isn’t immediately clear exactly what the campaign involves. The site seems pretty … basic, and only has a few restaurant reviews with Muni directions to the restaurant via 511.org.
Who are Marley and Ro? I have no idea. Their cutesy bio doesn’t reveal much, and it’s unclear whether they are cartoon representations of some Muni PR reps or fictional cartoon characters a la Mickey Mouse.
The ad is also on a bus shelter here:
Photo by Flickr user brian_brooks
Vague ad campaign aside, I do think there are some bus lines that can deliver a pretty great budget dining experience without having to transfer too much. Like a Muni snack crawl, if you will: i.e., you can take the 38 from downtown, get off at Larkin to grab a Vietnamese sandwich at Baguette Express in the ‘Loin, see some art at Shooting Gallery, then get back on the 38 to get some Hong Kong-style afternoon tea at D & A cafe on Clement.
Eh. Even though I could think of some thematic dining experiences that are accessible by Muni (as most places are in the city anyway), the ad doesn’t wow me so far because most of us already take the bus around town to dine and to do everything else.
What do you think of this campaign and its potential?
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I’ve been wondering about these ads… At first it reminded me of that new movie Marley and Me, or something like that. Then it just looked like a creepy picture to me.
BUT, that said, I think it would be neat to take a culinary MUNI tour of the city, especially for less adventurous types (and tourists) who usually stay downtown/Fisherman’s Wharf and who are the people most in need of a Vietnamese Sandwich, Pho, Pupusa, etc.
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An interesting ad campaign to be sure. We Muni Ladies tread cautiously when it comes to anything that even implies eating on Muni…
An homage to Tara, our prediction: Marley & Ro. FAIL.
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The website is registered to a Cindy Wong in the Outer Richmond/Seacliff neighborhood. (info via whois on godaddy.com)
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I just saw the Marley and Ro ad yesterday while walking (instead of taking the bus) at a bus shelter in the Outer Richmond/Seacliff neighborhood (Good stalking job Snoopy!)
I’m sure someone was riding the “good idea train” when this started, but it doesn’t seem to have become well-developed. Like Open Table, someone is probably trying to start up a restaurant referral/kickback scheme with bus riders as the niche audience.
The characters (and their bios) are insipid.
I’m with Rachel on her culinary tour!
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