With all the fog, the closest thing to fireworks that you could see was the Castro Theater sign changing from blue to pink.

But the crowd that had gathered on Tank Hill -- near Twin Peaks with a view of the whole Bay Area on clear day -- refused to be disappointed.

Someone's tinny iPhone played John Philip Sousa marches followed by Born in the USA by the Boss.

And then a tiny red Roman candle went off nearby in the Castro; everyone cheered. Over the Marina, a few sparkly white firecrackers could be seen, barely; oohs and ahs.

Things began to degenerate a little: people started clapping for a traffic light that changes from red to green, or a car's blinker on Market Street.

Meanwhile, though there was nothing to see but the dull lights of the city through the fog, we could at least hear the big fireworks show going on on the waterfront.

"Sounds like it must be the finale," said someone in the dark

For our finale, a group of kids let off some Roman candles. We all cheered, quite content to trade the clear July 4th skies of elsewhere for our foggy city.