While I am still recovering from the shock of some strange lady putting tampons in my medicine cabinet (scroll to the bottom of that post and you will understand), I am capable of rooting for the Giants tonight in the World Series. Plus, I will be in San Fran in two weeks, so I really would like to go there with the crazy cranked up to 11 in a post World Series frenzy.
And no, I don’t want to meet you for drinks when I am there. /misanthropesoftheworldunite
And because I understand that makes me sound like a total dick, when I travel, I basically like to fly solo and go see shit on my own. I don’t want to make plans, I don’t know what hours I will be busy, and I hate tying myself down. I’m a slave to routine here at home, when I travel, I just kind of like to let my freak flag fly and go my own way. I go out, and hopefully I wake up in the hotel the next morning. But I try not to plan anything in between. I’d love suggestions on where to eat and great bars and things I have to do, but I don’t want to spent a week tied down, if that makes sense. There is a reason I am still single, and that is just how I roll.
Mumphrey
I’m lackadaisically pulling for the Giants, even though they beat my Phillies, since I can’t root for anyone or anything from Texas.
Warren Terra
Is the first clause of the post a reference to something I missed, or should I just Not Ask?
Anonymous At Work
I’d root for the Texans for the simple reason that winning a World Series will make the price of Cliff Lee’s departure to New York that much more expensive. While I’m assuming that the Yankees will pay whatever it takes, I do not think I’m jumping to any conclusions. I simply take a small step and there conclusions are!
stuckinred
Senior circuit rules.
Mumphrey
As a random note, I just got back from a trip to Galax, Virginia, to see some of my wife’s family. On the way down, we stopped to eat in Lexington, Virginia. On the way out, we saw a truck in the parking lot with the nastiest, vilest, most evil bumper sticker I’ve ever seen. It said, “I’d Rather Be Called Racist Than Socialist!” And I thought, “You know what, dude? I think you’re likely to get your wish. Asshole.”
Omnes Omnibus
@Warren Terra: Take a look at the previous post and all will become clear.
SBJules
I’m a lifelong Dodger fan, no way can I root for the Giants. Michael Young of the Rangers went to my alma mater & I saw him play there. Actually Barry Zito, the Giant pitcher, was there at the same time, but I never saw him pitch. So, I’m cheering for a Texas team for maybe the first time.
erlking
Fine. I can’t have a drink with you anyway since I moved from SF and now live in Durham, but go to Spec’s, the burly Dubliner tending bar is named Sean Jackson and he pours a mean beverage.
General Stuck
A long time ago I visited SF on bidness, and the ground shook so much, I never wanted to go back. Though the short time I was there, I loved it.
KD
If you like highish brow food…. Kokkari Estiatorio is awesome, and a fine place to eat at the bar. Alone. Amazing roast meats, great salty small dishes. All good.
Arclite
Darn, and I was all ready to fly out from Hawaii for the BJ slap-and-tickle in SF.
Bummer.
Mark S.
Well, you are going to be in Frisco.
mcd410x
Chorizo burrito at El Farolito (Mission and 24th BART stop).
Also, too.
freelancer
Just checking, but the Yankees aren’t playing right? The Rangers definitely eliminated them, yeah? Okay, then. Go, whoever!
Hunter Gathers
The Giants, with their collection of bad-ass pitching and garbage-pile position players over the Rangers in 7. It’s going to be a hell of a thing watching a team filled with position players no one in their right mind would choose in a pick-up game win it all.
DaveInOz
I had 5 days in SF last month and had a great time. Enjoy!
And Go Giants!
Violet
San Fran is fun. You can just wander and have a good time.
Cacti
I’m no Giants fan, but I just can’t root for the Texas Dubyas.
WaterGirl
In case anyone wants to listen to the OFA call with Obama, starting in 7 minutes:
http://my.barackobama.com/OFAVolunteerCall
Amanda in the South Bay
@Mark S.:
Alas, you just opened up a can of worms by saying Frisco- 90% of everyone from here is going to say its “The City,” while the remaining 10% are going to chastise us johnny come lately’s who haven’t lived here since 1960 and always go to some greasy diner in some backwater of the East Bay where they play some obscure folk music on the jukebox that says Frisco or something, and that’ll prove its okay to say, or something.
Warren Terra
@Omnes Omnibus:
Ah. Thanks. I hadn’t noticed the postscript. Since it was bolded, it was probably not too easy to overlook, but there you are.
andrea
Seconding El Farolito. Now I’m off to one of the dive-y North Beach bars to watch the game.
HumboldtBlue
Cole, you don’t sound like a total dick, you ARE a total dick, big fucking difference. If I were a San Fran reader I’d tell ya to fuck off and use your magic google to find a fucking place to eat or where to get a fucking glass of wine.
But I’m not, I’m in fucking Humboldt so stay the fuck out.
Litlebritdifrnt
John I am so with you. I enjoy watching a movie on my own, I never want to interact with someone else when it comes to watching a movie.
stuckinred
@Litlebritdifrnt: I left you a couple of links back yonder.
Roger Moore
@mcd410x:
If they’ll make it, I’d recommend a chile relleno burrito instead. It’s something you’re only likely to get at a serious Mexican place. I’m partial to birria, but I see El Faralito doesn’t have it.
Nick L
Off-topic (of course), but your moment in Free Markets Solve Everything:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39798646/ns/health-health_care/
“Health officials say drug shortages pose a growing public health crisis, fueled in large part by financial motives of drugmakers who’ve watched low-cost generics erode their profits…’Normally, it’s a business decision,’ said [Valerie Jensen, FDA associate director]. ‘That does lead to shortages…these are just not usually money-makers.'”
stuckinred
@Roger Moore: Or El Bravo on 7th in Phoenix. But they call em Burro’s there.
The Grand Panjandrum
L’osteria del Forno is one of my favorites. Try the the Lamb Skewers or the Pumpkin Ravioli. This place will remind anyone who has ever been to Rome of the great little places they ate at while there.
Bubblegum Tate
As somebody whose office is two blocks from the stadium, I could not possibly disagree with this sentiment strenuously enough. Go away, baseball.
gbear
If you’re looking for bargains in SF, buy a Muni Passport first thing when you arrive. You’ll never have to spend another dollar on transportation, even if you stay out until 2:00am (busses are still full of people going home from work at that time).
lamh32
I currently live in DFW, but I could care less if the Rangers win. Actually, I not much for baseball anyway, but if I had a chose, I’ve always wanted to live in the Bay area, but since I had no choice (thx Katrina!!!), I’m essentially stuck in DFW until I can manage financially and motivationally to get the hell out. So, anyway…
GO GIANTS (that is who’s playing right???)
Mnemosyne
One of my all-time favorite episodes of “King of the Hill” involved Connie getting her first period while staying at the Hills’ for the weekend and Hank being the only one who could drive her to the store for … supplies.
HE Pennypacker, Wealthy Industrialist
Eat at Slanted Door down on the Embarcadero. You will not be disappointed.
And get tacos at La Tacqueria in the Mission. They’re small, which allows you to try a variety of meats. Recommend carnitas and al pastor.
beltane
I hope Texas loses. I hope they are swept with a big, gay, liberal elitist San Francisco broom.
lamh32
OT, but I thought this post by Al Girodano was a perfect bookend to my comments the last two days on how African Americans are more fired up to vote.
Next Tuesday’s US Elections in Black and White
Posted by Al Giordano
jayboat
Cole, you travel EXACTLY like I do. Gots to do my own thing at my own speed.
Unless I’m with another photographer I absolutely HATE going anywhere with people if I am carrying cameras. They try not to act irritated with me when they have to stop, turn around and wait for me to catch up because I was shooting something. I don’t let it bother me any more- and they usually wind up thanking me later for getting something they totally missed. 8-]
San Fran is one of my favorite places. I would be living there if the climate was a bit warmer. Sausalito is worth a look if you’re up that way.
Darkrose
See, this is why Prop 19 needs to pass. Timmy is too tense. Let Timmy Smoke!
gbear
@beltane:
I love being swept up with that broom.
quaint irene
Dang, and I made myself all puuuurty!
Still not sure where the tampons figure in.
Delta
Oh god, while you’re there don’t call it “San Fran” or “Frisco” or the locals are likely to skin you alive! Of course, they’ll do it in a nice, liberal way, but still, you’ll be risking your life.
San Franciscans refer to their city either by its full name of “San Francisco” or as “The City.” The latter says something about their view of themselves and the world, but that’s a discussion for another time.
jl
Cole in the SF Bay Area? Cripes, something else I have to worry about.
“And no, I don’t want to meet you for drinks when I am there. /misanthropesoftheworldunite”
No worries. I have to deal with enough moody people as it is.
As for tips on where to go: You won’t like it. The weather stinks, the people are weird, and its kind of dirty and grimy. Full of hippies. Horrible place.
I figure if some one is going to come out all this way to the SF Bay, why not see a little California, it is very close by and much nicer. (OK, maybe Cole will take that bait).
jl
But if I see some ample 40ish dude in the next two weeks who sounds a little like Ben Stein, and whose legs look familiar from blog pics, making any wisecracks about THE GIANTS, then he is finished, done, over, kaput.
Travel tip: when you see all that nice pretty fog come in in the late afternoon, and wind comes up, you might want to put on your swim trunks and head out the Sutro Baths. That will be fun.
debit
I finally have my internet back. :hugs internet to bosom:
It’s really a shame Oliver can’t settle in and get along with the other animals. Perhaps if Chloe was more catlike…
beltane
@Delta: Outer borough residents also refer to Manhattan as “The City”.
quaint irene
I think we’ve just discovered that J. Cole is really the author of the ‘Accidental Tourist’ travel books.
Lojasmo
Hey! I’m gonna be in San Fran in two weeks…want to have beers.
Kidding. Am actually going to seattle. Any seattleites want to hang out? /notaprick
Mudge
Try Jack’s if you go to Fisherman’s wharf area. Lots of beers on tap, good burgers.
http://www.pubcrawler.com/Template/ReviewWC.cfm/flat/BrewerID=413
asiangrrlMN
@jl: You fake-married one hell of a moody person, you know!
And, I lived in the East Bay for a bit. My fave part of the West Bay was the Mission District. Lots of great dives and eateries there, but that was ten years ago.
I was rooting for the Rangers (for no reason other than they beat the Yankees), but I can be persuaded to go the other way.
@debit: Ohhhh! Oliver is so handsome. It’s great to see him settling in. How was Obama on Saturday?
ETA: I tried to comment on your pic, but Flickr wouldn’t let me. FYF!
JGabriel
The spoken:
And the unspoken conclusion:
.
ronin122
Hmm, single, don’t want to be tied down, going to ‘Frisco, want to get out your “freak flag”. Is there something you’re going to be needing to discuss with Tunch some day? Not that I think he cares so long as he’s fed and left to his own devices. Cats seem a lot better with that than humans. Kidding of course, we all know you’re just asexual and we like/hate/whatever-the-emote-de-jour-is you as you are regardless.
That said, will the critters be okay without you for 2 weeks?
stuckinred
@asiangrrlMN: Did you see “La Mission”?
eemom
Misanthropic? Nah. True misanthropes don’t go to that much trouble to be presumptious, condescending assholes to people they don’t even know.
Take heart, San Franciscans — this too shall pass.
KDP
Canton Dim Sum at Folsom/Hawthorne (1 block east of Moscone Center). Walking distance from ATT Park.
Ask for the XO noodles (they don’t come round on the carts).
No drinks? Too bad. Have fun!
debit
@asiangrrlMN: I didn’t go. I knew it would be a madhouse and it was. I can deal with crowds outside, but they moved it inside to the field house when it looked like rain.
Oliver is such a love. He really just loves everyone, even Chloe, and wants nothing more than someone to cuddle with. I can’t imagine how he wound up outside and without a home.
stuckinred
Strobe lights beam,create dreams
Walls move,minds do to
On a warm San Francisco night
Old child,young child feel alright
On a warm San Francisco Night
Angels sing,leather wings
Jeans of blue,Harley Davidsons too
On a warm San Francisco night
Old angels,young angels feel alright
On a warm San Francisco night
Stan
Well John, more’s the pity. Lots of good folk here and we can be low-key and chill and all that.
But if you want any pointers give me a buzz. The City (yeah, what he^ said) has a little bit of everything, so if you’re interested in tips send me your preferences (or your neighborhood) and I’ll see what I can dig up. From what I think I already know of your preferences you must check out:
http://www.toronado.com/ (Beer heaven)
and while you are there: http://rosamundesausagegrill.com/haight-street
http://www.tommysjoynt.com/ (Carnivore’s delight)
And then if you’ve had enough meat and just want something that will make you feel great all over:
http://www.bstarbar.com/ (messed up web site; excellent Burmese food. Order the samosa soup and tea-leaf salad. No, seriously!)
Mark
El Farolito is such an uncreative choice. Here are some picks from a guy who rarely goes north of Market street:
Mexican: La Altena (30th + Mission) – the *best* tacos around. No joke.
Salvadorean: Balompie (18th + Capp) or El Zocalo (Mission near 29th)
[Only in San Francisco] Gluten-Free Venezuelan: Pica Pica (Valencia @ 14th)
Vietnamese: so many picks. I prefer non-tenderloin spots like Yummy Yummy (Irving near 12th) but the misanthrope in you will like Tu Lan downtown.
Chinese and Sushi: so many choices, you can’t go wrong.
Brunch: Just for You (22nd @ 3rd, not fancy); Mission Beach Cafe (14th @ Guerrero, fancier, but worth it)
Pizza: “San Francisco-style hipster Deep Dish” – Little Star (Divisadero or Valencia) or Paxti’s. If you want to get on the BART, Zachary’s is right near Rockridge station.
Pizza: New York Style – Arinell’s (Valencia @ 16th). it’s the only one.
South Indian: the gringos like Dosa, but there’s way more authenticity and shorter lines at Udupi Palace right down the street.
Steaks: I love Boboquivari’s on Lombard near Van Ness. Of course, I used to know the manager there, which always makes the food better.
Lobster rolls: hell, yes. Old Port Lobster Shack in Redwood City – it’s a bit of a hike, though, and it’s in a strip mall.
Dive Bars: too numerous to count. I love Lucky 13 (Church @ Market) and Argus (Mission near Valencia). Lone Palm would be great if you had a date. 500 Club is better now that they replaced the foul-smelling carpet.
Calouste
@beltane:
“The City” is a square mile along the river Thames between Temple Bar and the Tower, be aware of cheap imitations.
cf. “the Times”.
Keith G
Here is an important bleg to fellow B-J’ers for a few of your seconds and a few ‘mouse’ clicks.
The Lazarus House in Houston Texas is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization that provides a complete, low cost program of wellness in a comfortable, nonclinical environment for chronically ill clients suffering from disease related wasting syndrome or cachexia.
This week, Lazarus House is in a competition of sorts. The Pepsi Refresh Project is offering a $250.000 grant to community based programs. You can help seal the deal for this very worthy cause by going to:
http://www.refresheverything.com/livestrongerlonger
and clicking on the ‘vote for this idea’ tag. Yes it’s one of those. Nonetheless the money is real and can really be used to support those fighting HIV and other serious chronic diseases.
Thanks
asiangrrlMN
@stuckinred: Ooooh, no. It looks intriguing. Is it good?
@debit: Yeah, I don’t do crowds. And, Oliver is such a sweetie. I’m glad he found a home with you.
jl
@asiangrrlMN: But your a sweet moody person.
Seriously, I did try for a moment to think of some travel tips for our dear Mr. Cole. I want him to have a good time in good ol’ Frisco, or San Fran, of whatever it is.
But I suspect Mr. Cole’s tastes differ very significantly from mine, I just dunno what to suggest. I want him to have good time, even if I probably would want to kick his ass if I had to put up with him for any length of time.
If he likes walking through interesting places, finding random eating opportunities and looking at stuff, there is besides the obvious things like Chinatown and the Castro and the Haight:
A walk around yuppified areas of the Mission District (as the wise and beloved AsiangrrlMN suggests)
Dolores Park and the old Mission,
Walk along waterfront from the F-wharf to Golden Gate Bridge.
Northbeach. Go all the way along Columbus Avenue from Montgomery to where it runs into the F-wharf.
Drinks at Buena Vista Cafe at Victorian Park.
Cable cars best very early or late in day.
And of course, trip to Giants Stadium, whatever it is called, to pay homage to the World Champions of Baseball.
But I don’t know what a person like Cole wants to do. Maybe he just wants to check out he peep shows.
A foody probably ought to check out the unbelievably overpriced food shops and eateries in the Ferry Building. Cole would freak out at the prices, and maybe like the food.
The farmers market there is good. It is a regularly priced farmers market if you go behind the Ferry Building, believe it or not. It is a ways for me to go, but I make it there most weeks anyway.
stuckinred
@Calouste: “If you’re going to the City” Mose Allison, 1975.
If you’re going to the city
you better have some cash
cause the people in the city
don’t mess around with trash
lamh32
John Boehner to Campaign With Nazi-Reenactor Rich Iott
stuckinred
@asiangrrlMN: Yea, good story. Benjamin Bratt is Peruvian but her grew up in La Mission. He plays an ex-con low rider who discovers his son is gay.
RedKitten
I think that moniker is pretty common no matter where you go.
We Nova Scotians tend to refer to Halifax as “the city”, as in “I’m heading down to the city to do some shopping.”
So nobody really has dibs on that term, really.
And John, you should come up to Halifax, because I too, prefer doing things at my own pace and not being obligated to meet someone at 4pm even though I’m still in the middle of doing something interesting and don’t want to leave just yet. So you can go to Halifax, I can tell you that I don’t want to meet you for drinks, you can tell me to fuck off, that you didn’t want to meet me for drinks anyway, and we’ll both be curmudgeonly happy.
I much prefer to just tell people, “I’m going to be at this place from 9pm until whenever. Show up if you want to show up, and if I’m there, I’m there.” That way, I’m not pissed off waiting for them, and they don’t feel obligated to show up at any specific time.
Amanda in the South Bay
Hippie Hill in Golden Gate Park is a nice place to hangout with the outcasts, but as a warning you’ll probably get stoned just from inhaling the air there.
scarshapedstar
Oh, honey, there’s plenty of bachelors in San Francisco.
JGabriel
First Joe Miller, then Rand Paul, now Eric Cantor. Two’s a coincidence; three’s a pattern.
But what kind of pattern? I’m beginning to wonder if GOP candidates have started telling their campaign staff that it’s okay to go ahead and physically attack protesters. Or are we just seeing the natural result of Tea Party rhetoric and years of GOP eliminationist rhetoric?
.
Mark
@jl: “Yuppiefied” areas of the Mission? ?Donde Esta? I just saw a hooker get busted @ 22nd and Mission at 10 pm a few saturdays ago right in front of Revolution.
Unless hipsters = yuppies.
MikeJ
@RedKitten: Except as Calouste points out, Londoners. The City means a very specific part of the Smoke. When my geek friends ask what I’m doing back over there and I say “consluting in The City”, they know I’m not in town to fix the Oxfam web site.
Amanda in the South Bay
@RedKitten:
I wonder, how often is that true? I mean, I’m from the Pacific Northwest, I don’t remember Portland or Seattle ever being called “the city” in the sense that Bay Area residents call SF; heck, no one ever, ever calls San Jose “the city” despite it being (technically) the largest city by population in the Bay Area.
I also have a fondness for calling cities by their international airport codes; PDX is often used by Oregonians to refer to Portland, but SFO here seems just to refer to the actual airport.
SoVeryConfused
Do not miss the Exploratorium. It was started by Frank Oppenheimer, J. Robert’s brother.
Lick Observatory.
Point Reyes National Seashore.
Will you be traveling any? Getting down to Monterey? If so:
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Point Lobos (I love this place!)
Try the cioppino at Domenico’s on Fisherman’s Wharf. I was once mistaken for Francis Ford Coppola while having dinner there. My wife laughed about that one for a month.
jl
I think visitors from the ‘lesser’ areas of the country are supposed to call Frisco
Baghdad by the Bay Greatest Place on Earth City that Knows How, the City of Gold in Peace and Iron in War, Sir!
Otherwise they get parking tickets.
Just thought, in order for Cole to adhere to my tastes, he is required, absolutely required to spend a day in Golden Gate Park.
He will visit the following, and he will damn well like it:
the Strybing Arboretum (out of towners may have to pay now, though)
Japanese Garden
The Conservatory
California Academy of Science (which beats all other science museums ass IMHO)
North Windmill and check out the eatery next door.
He will NOT wade in Ocean Beach and drown. That would be sad. If the weather is good and warm (it won’t be this year) he will go to China or Baker Beach.
If Mr. Cole is interested in military history of San Fran Frisco, said Cole will check out Fort Point when he is at GG Bridge, Presidio, and Maritime Museum at F-Wharf. And if time and he wants to get tickets beforehand, Alcatraz.
If he wants to have a real good time, he should actually go see something that is actually in California, but he probably won’t listen.
Frinstance, Muir Woods.
Wine Country tour. They have packages, which is probably advisable for Cole.
JGabriel
Holy living fuck, this woman would flunk a Turing test:
I swear, Palin makes George Bush sound like fucking Cicero.
.
lamh32
There is so many slavery metaphor I could use right about now, but none of them would be appropriate for this blog!
“Fox News Is Not Racist”…
And why is Fox not racist?
Really Juan, really!!!!
Nied
I like how we’re just typing restaurant names for John to go to.
Memphis Minnie’s on Haight between Fillmore and Steiner: Started my love of good BBQ, loved it so much I bought a T-shirt before I moved away from The City
The Chieftain on the corner of 5th and Howard near the Moscone center: Awesome Irish pub with well pulled Guinnesses (Guinnei?) and great food and an awesome atmosphere.
21st Ammendment on 2nd st between Brannan and Bryant St: Great food, better beer. Bonus: it’s two blocks from the ball park so you should be able to get the maximum “woo we just won” vibe there.
EIGRP
If you like blues music, try The Saloon on Grant Avenue. It’s small and seedy, great for blues music.
Eric
Earl
Blue bottle for the (deservedly) famous coffee. The best location is at 66 Mint Street, btw Mission/Market and 5th/6th.
Mission (district, this time) for the burritos. The best burrito in the city is a matter of some dispute, but you can’t go wrong with Papalote. Go to the location near 24th st bart. Little Chihuahua is good too. If you want good mexican — esp burritos or bone-in chicken mole near market street, go to Tropisueno.
500 club in mission for an sf bar.
Toronado in lower haight is another excellent bar. Try the Russian River beer — it’s all very good, but the Damnation or Pliny the Elder are both superb. Also, Speakeasy, another sf beer company, makes a good wheat called White Lightning. Don’t remember if Toronado carries it. But try the Speakeasy beers while you’re here. Also, the Russian River brewery is a feasible drive from SF and fun as hell if you can find someone else to drive.
If computers are interesting to you, there is a working Babbage Difference Engine No2 in the computer history world museum (free) that is demonstrated at 2pm every day.
scomas at the wharf for seafood. Most seafood at the wharf is overpriced touristy shit; scomas is not. Expensive, yes, but not overpriced.
Things to do — on a moderately clear day, climb to the top of Buena Vista park in the haight ashbury district. There is a fake top so don’t get confused — keep going up. Expect to climb 300-500 feet. At the real top there is an open clearing for dogs to play and a cement step about 1.5 feet high and 25 feet long you can sit on and look at golden gate.
Golden gate park is nice, but skeezy near haight / the panhandle.
Dolores Park is fun when the pigs aren’t there harassing people for having beer. The truffle man is safe to buy from — they’re excellent if a little strong. Maybe start with half if you don’t smoke much.
If you like chinese, try Fang on Howard btw 3rd / 4th.
Drive south and go to a beach. Ocean beach in the city is skeezy — and don’t take your shoes off; there are needles in the sand. Fucking junkies.
Drive south and go to Grey whale cove. It’s a nudist beach but nobody is nude because it’s too cold. It’s just south of Devil’s Slide on Hw1. Beautiful beach, long set of stairs down to the beach so bring as much beer as you want, nobody cares, and most people don’t bring kids so no bloody kids running around. Great view up top and fun to get drunk on the beach proper. Water is fucking frigid though.
Haight Ashbury is a shithole; the revolution there is dead and gone and the place is taken over by fucking thugging street trash. There’s also an American Apparel with a giant woman’s ass and a ben & jerry’s. Don’t bother, particularly with upper haight — and except for magnolias, upper haight restaurants are all touristy shit with terrible food, too. Magnolias and 21st Amendment both brew beer and both are work checking out. Magnolias’ food is good; 21A is ok.
cathaireverywhere
Okay, since there are so many BJers who live in/near the city, maybe someone will know the answer to this. I was in there in 1987 or so visiting a friend who lived near Mission Dolores. She ordered in Chinese sparerib pizza, and it was the most amazing pizza ever in the entire world. I’ve lost touch with the friend, and in later trips, have driven around looking for the pizza place to no avail. I have tried googling recipes in the hope of making my own with no success. Does this place sound familiar to anyone? When I went to college there in the 80s, we loved a place in the Sunset called Marnee Thai, but I am not sure it’s still open/as wonderful as I remember.
whetstone
One big-ass suggestion, provided you haven’t booked your hotel yet: stay at the Hotel des Arts. It’s the most awesome hotel I’ve ever stayed in (and it’s surprisingly affordable–cheaper than the Holiday Inn my colleagues stayed at). Short on amenities, but they let artists loose on the larger rooms, and it’s kind of berserk and wonderful.
Seriously, even if you can’t get a room there your whole stay, it’s worth even a night. When I went to SF I stayed there one night and then had to head elsewhere b/c it was booked, but I was still glad I did.
asiangrrlMN
@jl: I missed this! Great summary of places for Cole to visit. I suspect he would want to spend little money and wouldn’t want to do anything too touristy. And, thanks for the compliment. No virtual couch for you tonight.
@lamh32: Oh my. So sad.
@Mark: Well, they were building a McDonald’s as I was leaving, so I think there may be more gentrified areas these days.
asiangrrlMN
@stuckinred: Netflix has it. I can stream it. Thanks for the suggestion. It looks like something I would…maybe not enjoy, but you get the drift.
@Earl: I second the 500 Club. Cutest bartender EVAH! when I lived in the East Bay.
@RedKitten: Minneapolis is ‘the city’ here with St. Paul being the other city, so I think it’s pretty common.
jl
@SoVeryConfused: What SoVeryConfused said.
If a bright sunny day with a big surf, the waves and spray along the Northwest shore are mesmorizing. Point Reyes beach is spectacular. I will assume Cole will know not to go in the water when their is wall of shimmering ocean spray jumping up in front of him high into the sky.
JWL
If you plan to rent a car, head south along the coast (at least as far as Santa Cruz), or north into wine country. A round trip will take the lion share of the day, so plan to leave early.
Napa and Sonoma counties are beautiful year ’round, but the autumn is special. I live north of the city of Napa. The grapes have been harvested, and the scent of the wineries crush fills the air 24 hours a day. When I moved up here a few years ago, I was astonished. Now, it’s more of an annual gift to the senses…
If you head south, just stay on the coast highway. If you head north, branch off the main arteries (101 & highway 29), and follow your nose. A shorter day trip that’s equally wonderful can be had in Marin county’s Muir woods. Once over the Golden Gate bridge, hang a left a few miles up the road. You won’t regret it.
MikeJ
@Earl: One thing you left out, if you go in the winter/storm season and enjoy watching surfing, Mavericks.
whetstone
@Mumphrey:
While I’m making recommendations–have you heard of a restaurant called the Townhouse? It’s in Chilhowie, staffed by vets of some of Chicago’s best restaurants (Trotter’s and Tru, IIRC). Imagine Alinea (or similar fancy new cuisine restaurant) set down in a tiny Virginia town. Worth it next time you’re around Galax. It’s expensive (though the a la carte menu’s less so), but cheaper than what you’d pay for similar food in a big city.
morzer
@JGabriel:
Well, English isn’t her first language, you know. I knew Sarah when he was still Irving von Kludge.
RedKitten
@JGabriel: All the words are English, but…they’re just not connected at all, are they?
jl
@asiangrrlMN: Well, thanks, sweetie. I been out on the couch for soooo long.
Also, everyone badger Cole to visit the outrageous food shops in the Ferry Building. Its some kind of foody paradise, though I would not know the ins and outs and details. A lot of that foody stuff is over my head. I stick to the produce and produce related items.
I prefer that market in Philadelphia, which is endless and has all that very very bad for you Philly food. But it is across the country, too bad for me.
nishner
North Beach: Gino & Carlos, The Saloon – oldest bar in The City, some patrons may have been there when it opened, Specs, Vesuvios next to City Lights.
Lower Haight: Toronado
Upper Haight: Gold Cane, Zam Zam Room
If you end up in Golden Gate Park, Beach Chalet at the west end of the park.
Clement Street: Plough and Stars
Bernal Heights: Wild Side West
Outer Mission: El Rio
Angry Black Lady
Oh Mah Gah, quit complaining ’bout the dang tampons already!
Be careful in San Francisco. Teh gay is airborne there. You might catch something. ‘jus sayin’.
Linkmeister
@SBJules: Amen, brother.
What I really want is a 7-game series in which Moreland or Hamilton or Andrus hits a home run in the top of the 10th and the Rangers’ closer shuts out the Giants in the bottom of the inning for a Rangers win.
morzer
@Angry Black Lady:
Well, to be fair Cole has got a tampon buried in his nether regions, which might explain a touch of aggrieved language.
jl
@JWL: Dude, if a few nice days, the Santa Cruze Boardwalk. All American fun. Taste of the past. Good roller coaster.
I won’t recommend no restaurants, I dunno what Cole likes.
Oh, wait. Helmand, if it is still open. Interesting Afghan food.
If you like Afghan food, run down to Fremont and walk down the main drag. Biggest Afghan population in US, I think, and lots of very interesting food.
stuckinred
@asiangrrlMN: I read some reviewers that didn’t like the stereotypes but I don’t see how you can tell a story without some of that. The dvd was cool because it has an interview with the real Che Riviera. In addition the original music is done by a South African named Mark Killian and the piece about him is really interesting.
Faisal
The rest of the California contingent should still get together some night. We can toast to John avoiding us — I’d avoid us too.
Mr Stagger Lee
I can’t stand football players with long hair coming out the helmets, and Tim Linsecum looks like a geek in that batter’s helmet, I want Flat-tops like Johnny Unitas, so sharp that you can land a paper airplane on it. OK rant over, Go Rangers!
Svensker
Cole, I so want to do some matchmaking on you, you ornery cuss. Good thing I’m not your auntie or a cousin, cuz I’d be driving you crazy trying to fix you up.
Kiss the streets of the City for me while you’re there. I still miss the hell out of those golden hills and that shimmering blue water and it’s been almost 20 years since I left Calif. Sigh.
asiangrrlMN
@jl: Yes, you have. And now, you are not. See how little it takes?
@JWL: If Cole stays in SF proper, he’s better off with no car. No one needs that kind of aggravation, especially not someone as tightly-wound as Cole.
@stuckinred: Cool. Hm. I may get the DVD instead, then. I do like the extras. And, yeah, stereotypes are hard to avoid completely. I will let you know what I think.
OK. I am asking the room in general. What is the best horror movie (psychological, not gory) you’ve seen? I want to see one in honor of Halloween.
Earl
Also, Tartine in the mission for breakfast, but go Monday through Friday. On the weekends there is a 45+ minute line.
Pizza delfina is great pizza and near tartine, but same deal — long lines, go in the afternoon during the week.
If you want good French, try L’ardoise in duboce, esp the tiger prawn ravioli.
And vietnamese — yummy yummy, or evergreen in mission for pho or bun.
Earl
Also, Tartine in the mission for breakfast, but go Monday through Friday. On the weekends there is a 45+ minute line.
Pizza delfina is great pizza and near tartine, but same deal — long lines, go in the afternoon during the week.
If you want good French, try L’ardoise in duboce, esp the tiger prawn ravioli.
And vietnamese — yummy yummy, or evergreen in mission for pho or bun.
cleek
i hear there’s a bunch of really hot Journey cover bands out there.
Mark
@asiangrrlMN: McDonald’s? There’s one at the 16th St BART and one at the 24th St BART. Ideally located to hit underserved populations. Otherwise, there’s a moratorium on chains.
JWL
I actually typed, “Go Giants!!!” after clicking ‘submit’, but it didn’t take.
The Giants broadcasting team is so brilliant– and their broadcast is live, a full minute before Buck-McCarver call the play– that I hang in my computer room with a radio. When something of note happens, I blitz into the TV room to watch it. Freddy Sanchez just put the Giants up by a run, Posey K’d, and Pat Burrell is at the plate with a 3-2 count, 2 out.
tick, tick, tick…..
Burrell just walked.
Go Giants!!!!!
Earl
@Mark:
But there’s currently a shitshow since McDonalds is now requiring a purchase to use their bathrooms so street trash don’t bathe in there. Only in SF would people have a tantrum about folks wanting non-repugnant bathrooms.
jl
@Mark:
‘ “Yuppiefied” areas of the Mission? ?Donde Esta? I just saw a hooker get busted @ 22nd and Mission at 10 pm a few saturdays ago right in front of Revolution. ‘
Yes, the yuppified areas of the Mission. Cole might like the Excelsior too.
Cole should also take a look at the Tenderloin, preferably by daylight, though if he takes in a play, a quick look after dark might be OK.
Edit: second thought, you are right ‘hipsterized’ areas is a better term.
asiangrrlMN
@Mark: Ok. I did not know. Oh wait. It wasn’t Mickey D’s. There was…goddamn it. Some kind of development being built (I went to school at New College). I’m glad it didn’t get too gentrified. I loved the Mission District.
4jkb4ia
Who is this impostor, and what did he do to Cliff Lee?
(Thanks, John)
tesslibrarian
Now I know why this blog feels so comfortable!
geemoney
Here’s a tip for when you’re there: Don’t call it San Fran.
Pro tip: If you want to talk like a local, call it (and I know this is original, but hey): “the city”.
Also, Mitchell Brothers.
Okay, never mind my pro tip. But the Mitchell Bros. stands.
asiangrrlMN
@asiangrrlMN: Addendum. I thought Se7en was a horrible movie. It was trying to be shocking, but wasn’t. The ending was cliched and predictable. I hated it. This is just to give you an idea of movies I like (or don’t).
morzer
@asiangrrlMN:
Talking to yourself?
*shakes head sadly*
debit
@asiangrrlMN: One of my favorite supernatural themed horror movies is Hell House. Dated, but good. The book by Richard Matheson is even better. Speaking of Matheson, I also loved Stir of Echoes.
Wait Until Dark with Audrey Hepburn isn’t really horror but I defy anyone to watch the last ten minutes and not be on the edge of their seat.
jl
@asiangrrlMN: Some day I want to see the sights around your part of country. I have had a long fascination with it, and now that I know they have ranch houses, I really want to see it.
What does one do in Minneapolis? I assume it will be wholesome. That would go without saying.
Also want to see Voyageurs and Grand Portage National Parks.
freelancer
URIBE!
Awesome!
eastriver
Also, don’t call it Frisco. (to quote Herb Caen)
And could you be any more of a self-centered, miserable fuck, JC? “I don’t want to meet anyone for a drink.” Asshole.
I don’t know why I bother.
stuckinred
@jl: Ice fish
Mark S.
Just got back from running a bunch of errands. What’s the score?
Oh.
Amanda in the South Bay
If you eat at Tartine, be sure to have desert at the Bi Rite Creamery just down the street.
And if you’re really bold, you can try visiting the Citadel for your BDSM fix.
jl
@stuckinred: Ha ha. You are funny a one.
What is up with the world series? I thought the Rangers were supposed to bury the Giants with their hitting.
Keep it up, Giants.
stuckinred
@jl: Not if they can’t hit the freak!
asiangrrlMN
@morzer: Yes. It happens when one lives alone.
Oh, and I’m kinda watching the game but not paying attention. I tuned in just to hear McCarver say, “Speaking of balls going up.” BRAIN BLEACH!
@debit: Do you mean Legend of Hell House? There are a few. That one was written by the author you mentioned, so I’m assuming it’s the one you meant. It looks intriguing. I want to see Wait Until Dark. And, Stir of Echoes looks right up my alley. I may have to get it.
@jl: Wholesome? Yes, we have that. The Fair and such. But, we have lots of theatre, music, and culture, too. And strip joints. And casinos. And ice fishing. Outdoorsy things since we have over 12,000 lakes. Stone Arch Bridge is my favorite architectural structure. And, of course, the stupid Mega Mall. Ugh.
asiangrrlMN
@morzer: Yes. It happens when one lives alone.
Oh, and I’m kinda watching the game but not paying attention. I tuned in just to hear McCarver say, “Speaking of balls going up.” BRAIN BLEACH!
@debit: Do you mean Legend of Hell House? There are a few. That one was written by the author you mentioned, so I’m assuming it’s the one you meant. It looks intriguing. I want to see Wait Until Dark. And, Stir of Echoes looks right up my alley. I may have to get it. Bought it!
@jl: Wholesome? Yes, we have that. The Fair and such. But, we have lots of theatre, music, and culture, too. And strip joints. And places where one goes to bet monies (FYWP filter). And ice fishing. Outdoorsy things since we have over 12,000 lakes. Stone Arch Bridge is my favorite architectural structure. And, of course, the stupid Mega Mall. Ugh.
2th&nayle
@stuckinred: Eric Burton and the Animals. Good Lord we’re old!
Roger Moore
@jl:
You can’t judge anything based on part of one game. The Jints obviously have the early edge, but don’t start planning the parade in San Francisco yet.
JWL
Eastriver: My sister and I are both native San Franciscans, and neither one of us gives a flying fuck if anyone calls it ‘Frisco (and she’s still a City mouse). I’ve know idea where that one got started, but the late, great columnist Herb Caen certainly perpetuated it.
frosty
Your idea of a vacation is what I used to call “Follow the front wheels.” It’s even worked on family vacations, where after a few days, you abandon your plans and head off in a completely different direction.
It definitely doesn’t work well if you make a lot of reservations in advance, so avoid those.
Cat Lady
Halloween colors + home advantage = Giants FTW. No dog in this hunt, but I’m going with satanic black and orange over the red white and blue.
/coastal elitist
MikeJ
@Roger Moore:
Dammit, I already got my chaps out.
Unrelated to baseball, anybody seen Franken’s version of the “Republicans drove us into the ditch” speech?
asiangrrlMN
@jl: Um, he’s not joking. We do ice fish here. It’s very popular.
@MikeJ: Love him. That’s awesome. That’s my senator, bitchez.
@Steeplejack: Steepman! How was your first day back?
Steeplejack
@JGabriel:
Sounds like James Brown.
Amir_Khalid
@asiangrrlMN: I thought the ending of Se7en was really disappointing. I had my heart set on seeing Gwyneth’s head inside that box.
MikeJ
@asiangrrlMN: I thought “ice fishing” was just a shorter way to say, “drink a lot and cut a hole in the ice.” Which I’m not criticizing. I’m not a huge schnapps fan but I can drink it if i have to.
jl
@asiangrrlMN: Well, OK, if you say so. I will investigate this ‘ice fishing’
And, strip clubs aren’t wholesome? I guess, being a Californian, I have different standards.
MikeB
If nothing else, the presence of the Rangers in the World Series
proves that you can recover from George Bush, it just takes
about 20 years…
jl
@Roger Moore: Lalalalalalalala. I can’t hear you. What did you say?
Calouste
@MikeJ:
“Except as Calouste points out, Londoners. The City means a very specific part of the Smoke. When my geek friends ask what I’m doing back over there and I say “consluting in The City”, they know I’m not in town to fix the Oxfam web site.
”
I know money is a prime motivator for people working in the Square Mile, but still….
asiangrrlMN
@Amir_Khalid: Ha!
@MikeJ: Well, yes, that, too. But people are serious about their ice fishing here.
@jl: Basically, you get up at asscrack of dawn in the freezing weather, trudge to a nearby lake, make sure the ice is solid enough, set up your tent or whatever, drill a hole in the lake, and wait. Not my idea of a good time, but your mileage, as they say, may very.
Snark aside, I would recommend coming in the winter because it will be unlike anything you’ve experienced in SF.
MikeJ
@Calouste: It wasn’t a typo. Yes, I work there, but I always feel dirty afterwards.
asiangrrlMN
@MikeB: That’s funny–until I realize what it means in real life. Sigh.
Roger Moore
@asiangrrlMN:
FTFY
frosty
@jl: Reading Terminal. Been there once, a few months ago. Will be returning many times. Better cheesesteaks than Jeno’s and Pat’s in South Philly.
jl
@asiangrrlMN:
“Snark aside, I would recommend coming in the winter because it will be unlike anything you’ve experienced in SF.”
You mean its warm in MN in the winter? Wow. It sounds very interesting place.
shoutingattherain
For the complete SF experience, drop some LSD and go here.
You’re welcome.
futzinfarb
Shouldn’t it really be /misanthropesoftheworlddisunite ?
JWL
What is up with the world series? I thought the Rangers were supposed to bury the Giants with their hitting?
The Rangers just drove the long haired, pot smoking hippie out the game.
I listened or watched damn near every Giants game this year. I caught bits of innings off-and-on with the Rangers; until the playoffs, when I paid them strict attention.
Straight on– I have no idea who is going to take this series. They are both extremely formidable teams.
Go Giants!!!!
Julie
I envy your trip to S.F. I love that city. It’s S.F., there are restaurants all over the place. The French Laundry is great. If you have the time, go to Napa. I loved it in Napa. Tour a winery, do a tasting, get some olive oil. You can’t spit without hitting a great restaurant in Napa. I did a wine tasting at Cakebread, Chandon and some giant castle winery that the name escapes me. Have a wonderful vacation.
kindness
Toronado’s has the best beer selection in SF. Kinda loud music but the Belgian stuff is sweet.
MikeJ
@JWL:
He’s from Seattle! He couldn’t possibly…
Wait. Never mind.
asiangrrlMN
@Roger Moore: Heh. FTFY never gets old.
@jl: Heh. If you think of ten below as warm, then sure. Plus, we have ice sculptures in the winter.
Omnes Omnibus
@Roger Moore: I don’t ice fish, but my father has been known to do it. He does it for the fishing, sits outside on an overturned 10gal bucket, catches fish, and then tosses them back.
Roger Moore
@asiangrrlMN:
Neither does FTMFY.
asiangrrlMN
@Roger Moore: Neither does FTMFYWAVRPF. You know I was going there, right?
@Omnes Omnibus: The fish or the beer?
ETA: You said he tosses them back.
Roger Moore
@Sister Rusty Pitchfork of Decency:
I guessed as much.
Steeplejack
@asiangrrlMN:
Try Don’t Look Now, 1973. Donald Sutherland, Julie Christie. Directed by Nicolas Roeg.
Omnes Omnibus
@asiangrrlMN: The fish. He doesn’t drink while fishing. He also doesn’t care much for fish a food. He just enjoys catching them. Weird, huh?
Steeplejack
@asiangrrlMN:
God, it was awful. And today was not much better (rare midshift, which is why I’m home now). I have got to get out of there, the sooner the better.
Mnemosyne
@asiangrrlMN:
The Haunting (the good 1963 version, not the crappy remake). You see virtually nothing, but the sound design and the lighting is so creepy that you become convinced that if they would just move the camera a few inches, you would see one of the ghosts.
Make sure you get the widescreen version — there are still some pan-and-scan ones floating around out there.
Left Coast Tom
@asiangrrlMN:
I grew up in MI, and upon moving to the SF Bay Area (1987) had someone tell me that car heaters were great because when its Really Really Cold Outside one can turn the heater up full and drive with the windows open. I suggested he’d freeze his face off trying that in areas with actual cold.
For jl…in your part of the country, he mentioned Voyageurs NP…I’d _highly_ recommend Boundary Waters and Quetico.
John: make sure you spend time in SF just wandering around, just pick an area that seems interesting and simply walk. Re/ Pt. Reyes suggestions, normally October and early November is an excellent time to see the coast, because the fog isn’t coming in so much and the storms are just getting started. This year doesn’t seem normal, but if you have a free day with the wind turning off-shore Go To The Coast.
mark
Toronado. I saw one dude puke at the bar and keep drinking. Another dude pissed himself. Ugh
Martin
Go Giants! FTFY!
asiangrrlMN
@Roger Moore: How the hell did you do that? So cool!
@Steeplejack: Ooooh. That looks right up my alley. Oooh. also streamable (yes, I made it up. Deal) from Netflix. Cool. How you?
@Omnes Omnibus: Hm. I dunno. Maybe there’s something about the activity that soothes.
gbear
@asiangrrlMN:
Hey! I thought we were both ‘The Cities’. Now the truth comes out, and I’m hurt, crushed, I tell you. I can’t believe you feel that way…
One more place for Cole: Amoeba Records.
jl
@Left Coast Tom:
“I’d highly recommend Boundary Waters and Quetico.”
Just looked it up. Sounds good. Thanks.
If any MNers come back to this thread, what is with that little piece of MN stuck up above the Lake of the Woods? I’ve wondered about that from time to time.
Graeme
Toronado for beers. Zeitgeist is the bar to go to if it’s sunny. Go to the Buena Vista for Irish Coffee. Yes, it’s a tourist trap. It’s still fucking fun.
Little Star for deep-ish pizza with a cornmeal crust. I love the burgers at Chez Maman. If you’re near the Castro & you want a quick bite Super Duper Burger is good. If you’re at the Toronado & you don’t get a sausage at Rosamunde’s, Thep Phenom is hella good Thai food.
Everyone swears by Marlowe’s, but I haven’t eaten there yet.
That’s all I can think of off the top of my head, and you probably know the Toronado. Back to the Giants game!
Greenhouse Guy
Finger Lakes…I believe, jl.
I’m a sconi.
asiangrrlMN
@Mnemosyne: Ooooh! Based on a Shirley Jackson book. Nice! On my short list.
@Steeplejack: Sorry to hear. I really hope you do find something better soon.
@Left Coast Tom: Ha! No kidding. Every winter, I play the fun game of seeing how long I can drive with no heat and the windows open. I can manage to around zero degrees.
Roger Moore
@asiangrrlMN:
When you hit the reply, it just puts a @[a href=”#comment-foo”]Poster Name[/a]: at the top of the post. You can edit the “Poster Name” part to say anything you want. Easy peasy pie.
Mnemosyne
@asiangrrlMN:
G recommends Rosemary’s Baby, which is still completely freaky. And it’s almost obsessively faithful to the book, which is a good read in itself.
JWL
Tony Bennett just sang God Bless America during the 7th inning stretch.
San Franciscans (even then) had long ago adopted him as an honorary native son.
I attended the last Niner game at Kezar Stadium, a playoff loss to the Cowboys.
Tony Left His Heart at halftime.
Dallas was leading, and everyone knew they had the better team.
It was the only time in my experience that Bennett hasn’t received a big, “attaway to go we love you, Tony”. The crowd was surly that day, my friend. Like an old man returning soup at a deli…
Go Giants!!!!
asiangrrlMN
@Mofo Genius: Let me try.
ETA: It works, Roger Moore!
@Mnemosyne: Oh yeah. That would be creepy.
@gbear: Oh, I don’t believe it, mind you. Some of my best friends live in St. Paul.
Kidding aside, I actually prefer St. Paul.
Roger Moore
@Left Coast Tom:
I was taught growing up that the car heater should only be used to defrost the windows and take the edge off the cold. You’re still supposed to wear warm enough gear that you won’t freeze to death if you have to leave the car for a while.
freelancer
@OMG He did it the ole fashuned wa- Ahh! I been stabbed by a pitchf– (dies):
Backspace key.
Left Coast Tom
@Roger Moore: In fairness, driving from the Bay to Tahoe in the winter traverses several climate zones. I keep appropriate clothing within reach for when I leave the car, but I can’t don real winter clothing while still near the Bay.
asiangrrlMN
@snort giggle heh: You, sir, made me do all that–and a bag of chips!
Roger Moore
@Left Coast Tom:
Yeah, I don’t have much use for that training now that I live in Pasadena. It comes in handy sometimes while on vacation in Utah, but then I’m usually expecting to get out of the car to do some sightseeing, so I’d want to be warmly dressed anyway.
I have found that the same general idea is helpful here when it’s frightfully hot. It’s still a good idea to dress for the outside weather and keep the inside temperature just enough different to keep the edge off. It’s just that here that means not cranking up the AC in your house, rather than not cranking up the heater in your car. It has the convenient side benefit of keeping one’s electrical bills reasonable.
HE Pennypacker, Wealthy Industrialist
@JWL: In fact, there was a short lived city magazine titled Frisco back in the 80’s. I’m sure the title was picked to drive Herb Caen out of his mind/roll over in his grave (don’t remember when Herb passed along…).
Left Coast Tom
@Roger Moore:
The real training around the Bay would be dressing in layers in summer. The first time my mother visited me after I moved here was in June…I tried to tell her to bring warm clothing. She didn’t listen. She also didn’t repeat that mistake.
2th&nayle
@Roger Moore: You are quite right. Lived in Minot, North Dakota for 3 years, where being unprepared for inclimate weather can leave you crippled…. or dead.
Darkrose
Okay, that was sloppy, but we’ll take it! Go Giants!
JWL
@HE Pennypacker, Wealthy Industrialist:
Herb passed just about a year after the Embarcadero was designated the Embarcadero-Caen thru-way. Well deserved, I will add.
Affeldt just threw a wild pitch. Two runners on. One out, top of the ninth. 11-4 Giants. 3-1 count. Here comes Brian Wilson…
Guerrero at the plate… Sac fly, runner scores… 11-5.
Cruz doubles.. 11-7.
Giants Baseball: TORTURE!
Giiants Win!!! Ya-hoooooo….
That said, the Rangers are are a very, very good team. It’s going to be a very tough series, come what may….
freelancer
The Giants win
the pennant!Game 1!The Giants win
the pennant!Game 1!The Giants win
the pennant!Game 1!The Giants win
the pennant!Game 1!goblue72
Don’t look now, but the hippie soshulists of San Francisco are *indeed* messing with Texas. How sweet is.
And, day-um, I didn’t realize there were some many BJ’ers here in the Yay Area.
Stuff to do:
Ditto on the Ferry Building. Go on a Saturday morning and catch the best farmer’s market evah. Get your nosh on at Primavera (Mexican) or one of Namu’s Korean tacos. Hayes Valley Grill often has awesome soft shell or fried oyster po boys. Pick up a coffee at the Blue Bottle cart and you are in for the world’s best post-hangover breakfast/brunch adventure.
Hog Island Oysters (inside the Ferry Building) – go during a workweek for their happy hour oysters, farmed an hour up the coast in West Marin in some of the cleanest waters on the Pacific coast. Big, bright, & briny.
The Presidio – this former Navy base turned National Park is like having a giant forest in the middle of a major city. If you like biking, rent a bike in North Beach, ride through the Crissy Field and the Presidio and then bike over the Golden Gate Bridge. Bike to Sausalito (short ride), and then take the ferry back to SF. You will NOT be disappointed.
Catch some live bands – there are plenty of great venues: Hotel Utah, the Independent, Amnesia, the Fillmore, etc.
I know you like your mojitos, but if you are interested in broadening your drinking horizons, San Francisco (along with NYC) is ground zero for the best cocktail bars in the country. You can’t go wrong at any of these: Bourbon & Branch, the Alembic, Beretta, Rickhouse, Bar Agricole, Smuggler’s Cove (a modern temple to rum & tiki), Comstock Saloon, Heaven’s Dog, 15 Romolo, Cantina, Rye… ok you get the picture. If I had to narrow down, I’d pick the Alembic, Smuggler’s Cove and Bourbon & Branch. Be warned, B&B is a speakeasy &requires reservations – if you want to just drop by, just use the codeword “books” to go the “library”. After you’ve had your fill, go to the Cask Store at 3d and Market, and have one of the nice hipster girls help you select a premium bottle of booze to take home.
Tadich Grill (est. 1849) – for a taste of Herb Caen’s San Francisco, get a martini and a hangtown fry (oyster and bacon omelette) served to you by old guy waiters in starched whites.
Visit many parks – Golden Gate, Alamo Square (Haight), Washington Square (North Beach), Fort Mason (Marina).
Yeah, ride the damn cable car. Its a tourist trap, but its fun.
Leave the City – half of what makes San Francisco so much fun is that its in the middle of the best place in the country – the Bay Area. Drive up to West Marin over Mt. Tam and go to Pt. Reyes to see the magnificent California coast where the continent just…ends. Or hit Muir Woods and see the redwoods.
Do Wine Country but try to avoid the big production wineries. Pick any sub-area of Napa or Sonoma and just hit a bunch of wineries in the same area. It’ll give you a real sense of the terroir and you might wind up finding some great wine from someplace almost no one has heard of.
Or go south along the coast to Carmel or Monterey. Magnificent coastlines and huge beaches. (but don’t swim – you can’t swim out here – surf in a wetsuit, yes. swim, no.)
Also, if Prop 19 passes, I also highly recommend sampling some of our fine artisanal Mary Jane.
JWL
First pitch tomorrow 4:57 (PST).
Go Giants!!!
strohdog
Tadich Grill. 240 California St. Oldest restaurant in CA. Cioppino. Stiff cocktails. Great waiters, but don’t piss ’em off. Sit at the bar and soak it all in. This place IS San Francisco!
kindness
@mark: You go to Toronado with interesting friends. I’m more boring than that.
You have to go into one of the Peet’s stores and drink the regular brew. They make that stuff so strong there you start sweating on your second cup. 3 and you get the jitters.
jl
@goblue72:
Go Giants:
“Tadich Grill (est. 1849) – for a taste of Herb Caen’s San Francisco, get a martini and a hangtown fry (oyster and bacon omelette) served to you by old guy waiters in starched whites.”
I forgot Tadich. Go there and feast up on some old timey heart attack San Francisco Gold Rush and High Society Food. I wonder if they still have weird stuff like bone marrow and sweet meats in butter cream sauce over taters, or sand dabs. They used to have old time stuff like that.
Cable cars: these have become rip off, which is too bad since they are fun. I can walk from one end of the line to the other on California, and sometimes see only one or two cable cars go by. Cole should catch one at dawn when he is hungover from a night in some after hours club trying to get back towards wherever he tries to remember his hotel is, or shortly after midnight when he is drunk. More glamorous views and ambiance. But don’t fall off.
And the aforementioned oysters are good, and I do not even like oysters that much.
Take a ferry ride to Jack London Square or some other tourist trap across the bay. Catch first or last ride for pretty viewiness pleasure.
annp23
San Francisco Stuff
Piperade on Battery above Green. Tasty Basque food.
Great little walk to take right near the restaurant. Go to Sansome and Filbert and hike up the 400 (or so) steps to Coit Tower. Great views, classic San Francisco architecture, and usually wild parrots.
Romolo in North Beach (on Romolo just above Broadway and very close to the intersection with Columbus). Kind of an odd hole in the wall. Nice and dark, as a bar should be. Surprisingly good food. Love the burgers and fries. Tasty (but pricy) cocktails.
Katana-Ya on Geary close to Union Square. Ramen, but not the kind you ate all through college. Open late. Salty and satisfying after a drink or five. Kimchee Ramen. Kimchee fried rice.
Elks Lodge #3 (the oldest continually operating lodge in Elkdom) on Post near Union Square. Inexpensive drinks. Nice people. Classic decor. I think anyone is welcome at the bar on Friday’s. I’m not an Elk, and it’s always been fine.
Range in the Mission on Valencia between 19th and 20th. American/California. I always get the steak, but the stuff I’ve grabbed off other’s plates was also good.
Flour + Water and Delfina are also lovely Mission destinations.
And don’t be afraid to come to the East Bay. I live in North Oakland, and it’s full of awesome food. Get a nice Italian deli sandwich at Genova’s at 51st and Telegraph, or try the fried chicken sandwich at Bakesale Betty across the street. Or try Wood Tavern (America) on College Ave. Best pastrami sandwich I ever had and a killer Manhattan.
jl
You head towards the Tansamerica Pyramid to see Jackson Square if you want to see what The City By the Bay looked like around the Gold Rush. Area is dead during the weekends, but busy weekdays.
Mark
@annp23: I was at Range and the tables were so close together that it was like everyone else’s conversation was my own.
Next to me was a man and a woman on their first date. This is a few years ago, but the guy was bragging about his real estate ventures. And then he says: “I just picked up the new Tom Friedman book. It’s great.” And the woman says: “Who?” And the guy flips out and starts bitching her out because she doesn’t know who Friedman is. She pounds her cocktail and starts texting.
I think, under no circumstances, should John go there. His head would explode.
Mark
@annp23: I also think John would kill himself rather than get treated like dirt at Flour and Water and have to wait two hours for a table among a bunch of douchebags.
annp23
Oops. Kinda forgot bars. Hotel Utah, Lucky 13, Zeitgeist, Thieves Tavern, or get fancy and have a beverage in the Pied Piper Bar at the Palace Hotel. Last time I was there we had a couple of tasty beverages and then wandered to the Garden Court where we did a slight bit of ballroom dancing in the not exactly open — but very inviting and lovely — space.
Quaker in a Basement
I second Graeme’s plug for Thep Phanom Thai restaurant at 400 Waller St. in the Haight.
JWL
I don’t care if you’re not a baseball fan. You understand nothing about San Francisco if you’re not a Giants fan.
Kay Shawn
While you’re walking around the city, duck into any bodega or deli and get an It’s-It ice cream cookie/sandwich. They are superb. I try to eat two a day when in SF.
jl
Just thought that if Cole wants to get some real local color, I would suggest the following, time permitting. There may be guided tours for this is stuff in a bus dressed up like a fake cable car, but not sure.
Wander around the Avenues until you find a local Standard Neighborhood Bar. A Standard Neighborhood Bar has a slightly opened door in all weather, a pool table, lots of temproary ply wood wall decor with cheap covering over it, and a shrine to SF’s two patron saints, Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. Go there and talk some football, except this year it might get you beat up, so use your judgment.
Next, hook with a group of people who are into Ocean Beach bonfires. This will involve buying a third cord of wood at the Safeway down by the beach, or ripping off some lumber from someplace and burning it up on Ocean Beach starting at dusk. You burn picnic food, roast marshmallows, and drink alcoholic beverages while you watch the wood burn. This is done in all weather short of a downpour. (Edit, for a real crowd, there would be a dead whale just washed up on the beach).
Wander down to the southwest corner of the Sunset and drink with the Irish at a local bar. Then hang out at some Russian delicatessans in the Richmond and make some connections and go drinking with the Russians at one of their clubs. Some really weird places along Geary, I never been in ’em, but am curious from what I see going on outside. If Cole survives, I would like report. For I am scared of them.
SF is not a late night town in most areas, which is silly since it is nicer out late at night than early in the evening. So find a local Korean restaurant or dive, Hawaiian BBQ joint, if you want to be out late and eat a lot of grub and drink.
Probably need to find a Filipino restaurant or bakery too.
Graeme
annp23 is right about Lucky13 & Hotel Utah.
If you’re downtown & you need lunch, I would also recommend the CurryUpNow food truck. Spicy Indian food wrapped up in a burrito. They import Indian potato chips to sell, to boot. Beats the hell out of ranch flavor, if you ask me.
If you want a decent steak without going too expensive or going to a chain, I would recommend The Eureka in the Castro.
If you want to get good views from the bay on the cheap, I would recommend taking a ferry ride to Tiburon. Nothing there but fish & chips, but it’s a good 360 degree view.
I would offer to hook you up with drugs, but hopefully Prop 19 will turn SF into even more of a free for all.
srv
@Earl: Skip the Magnolia recs, that food has always sucked and you can get their beer at Toronado. Rosamunde (next door) and Uvo (across street for food). Thep Phenom around the corner at Fillmore. Use yelp.com for all food recs, but most of the ones above are ok.
You like sushi and Jazz? Take a 22 north from Fillmore & Haight and go to Yoshis. Or you can take the Geary (38) from downtown to Fillmore.
As for Upper Haight, there aren’t any thugs up here. Club Deluxe has the 2nd best pizza after Little Star. All other pizza in SF sucks, without any exceptions. Amoeba records at the end of Haight, walk off into Golden Gate park and you’ll see the Hippy Hill mob on weekends.
Nobody has mentioned the de Young Museum (across from the Academy of Sciences – I remember your cousin is the penquin lady). Then over to Strybing. From there, you can walk south to the Judah/9th st area for dinner and take a 71 back downtown or the rail (can’t miss it).
You can walk to all those from upper Haight. To do lower/upper Haight and GG park, just get on any 6 or 71 bus on Market headed west and off you go. The 6 turns at Masonic at Upper Haight, the 71 keeps going to the park & Judah area.
Buses at nextmuni.org, Bart at bart.gov, and 511.org for general area.
Avoid Grant for Chinatown. Go to Stockton @ noon to see the real folks. Best food there are places w/o english menus. When you get to Jackson st, head downhill and take a right at the alley for fresh fortune cookies.
Ride the cable cars at night on a weekday when all the tourists are gone. One stops right at Buena Vista for the touristy but nice coffee. As for the rest of the Wharf, wish they’d just move it to Oakland.
Sat AM/noon, go to the Ferry Bldg at the end of Market/Embarcadero. Richy Farmers Market, but all good stuff.
And consider the ferry to Angel Island if you’re up for some hiking.
If you’re looking for something intellectual:
http://www.itsyourworld.org
http://tickets.commonwealthclub.org/bbshowsCalendar.asp
http://www.swissnexsanfrancisco.org/Ourwork/events/postdisasterreconstruction
Sorry, VDH and Max Boot not around this month. You just missed Hitlery.
suzanne
OT. Whatever.
I just found out that an ex-boyfriend of mine has this idiotic, wackaloon, not-even-funny libertarian blog, and I’m so depressed. For fuck’s sake, WHY did I bang a libertarian?!?! I mean, my ex-husband is an asshole, but at least he’s not an idiot.
I need to go take a shower. For the next few months.
Turgidson
@cathaireverywhere:
Marnee Thai still exists and is still very good. In fact, it opened a 2nd location in the Inner Sunset. Thep Phanom, mentioned above and right around the corner from the awesome Toronado, is my favorite Thai in the city though.
I didn’t see anyone mention the Alembic. It’s in the Upper Haight, down the street from Amoeba, not far from the entrance to GG Park where the crusty punks congregate and offer passersby fresh buds. Alembic has a huge selection of bourbons and rye whiskey and make great cocktails – particularly sazeracs and old fashioneds.
Little Star – kinda Chicago style, but unique and very good pizza. (I’m from the Chicago area, so I don’t say that lightly).
Suppenkuche in Hayes Valley. Freaking delicious, slightly upscale German and central/eastern European fare (sausages, wiener schnitzel, etc.) with a great selection of German beers on tap you rarely see.
If willing to travel and drop some serious cash, Sushi Ran in Sausalito has the best sushi I’ve ever had. Not hard to get to on the ferry from dowtown SF. But VERY expensive.
Love Kokkari, which was mentioned above. Also, Bix and Frascati. But the latter two are places you wouldn’t want to go alone.
Other watering holes I like – The Little Shamrock in the Inner Sunset, The Trappist if you venture to Oakland, Mr. Bing’s in North Beach/Chinatown is a hilarious dive. The Saloon is great for blues. If you don’t mind wading through some hipsters, Edinburgh Castle Pub and Hemlock Tavern at about Polk and Geary are cool places. If you don’t want to go too far from downtown, the Irish Bank is decent.
Not sure if you’ll be here during a football Sunday, but if you’re willing to get up early and trek over to the Upper Haight, Kezar Pub is a great sports bar. It just gets full for football by 9am or so (football starts at 10am here). But it has good beers and very good pub grub/football food. Best wings I’ve had in SF (which isn’t to say they’re amazing…this city doesn’t do greasy food all that well).
I suppose that’s enough.
Anne Laurie
Why no love from the locals for the Asian Art Museum?
Also, there is the San Francisco Zoo… if Cole starts to miss blogging, they have a magnificent Dentzel Carousel, where the magnificent figures glide up&down in an endless circle, accompanied by calliope music & the screams of small children. Not to mention meerkats, and for full wingnut flavah, the blue-arsed baboons…
Turgidson
oops, GoBlue mentioned the Alembic.
Another recommendation I didn’t see but probably missed someone else make: Swan Oyster Depot at California and Polk. Excellent fresh shellfish of all types. The restaurant is just a long countertop. Run by a big loudmouth family who will make fun of each other for your benefit if you’re lucky enough to be there when it’s not busy (which is rare).
Random place: FRD Cafe at 3rd and Bryant. Kim Chee burritos and mongolian beef cheesesteak. Good stuff.
annp23
@Mark
Last couple of times I was at Range, I was in the back at a booth, and I was talking to the folks I was with. I have no idea who else was — or wasn’t — discussing the latest piece o’ crap from Friedman. I really enjoyed the food. I like the atmosphere. Maybe the booth is way better than a table?
As to Flour and Water and what John may — or may not — enjoy when he’s out here. What the fuck? I’m not John’s personal assistant. I don’t know what he wants to do. I don’t pretend to know who he really is. The man is just a guy whose blog I really enjoy reading, and I’m just throwing some shit out there. And I do have a bit of a soft spot for Flour and Water. It’s good pizza.
Sock Puppet of the Great Satan
Well, I’m disappointed that you’re not going to meet for drinks.
Sight-seeing:
Alacatraz
Coit Tower
Academy Of Sciences (don’t go on the weekend, it’s too busy)
DeYoung museum (same location as Academy of Sciences)
Legion of Honor
San Francisco Art Institute (because of the Diego Rivera mural)
MoMA
The Castro
And do a walking tour: there’s some about the Barbary Coast days, or do a mural tour of the Mission with Precita Eyes center.
Food: It’s hard to get a bad meal here, except at Fisherman’s wharf.
The Canton place on Folsom is great.
Asia SF not for the food, but the Tranny waitresses.
There’s lots of good restaurants at 16th & Valencia, like Ti Couz and Monk’s Kettle. Huge selection of beers at Monk’s Kettle, also.
Sushi: Moki sushi on Cortland, or Tokyo A GoGo in the Mission, or Blowfish Sushi also in the Mission.
Mexican: Roosevelt Tamale Parlour in the Mission.
North Indian: Either Clay Oven in West Portal if you like polite service, or Pakwan if you like rudeness. Dosa in the Mission for South Indian.
Have fun. If you change your mind about a BJ meet, then let us know.
Drinks: Latin American Club on 22nd. Huge cocktails.
kury
If you’re going to San Francisco, you have to check out Golden Gate Park. Its beautiful on its own, but I think that they have some sort zoo there too, although they might have gotten rid of that.
Sock Puppet of the Great Satan
“All other pizza in SF sucks, without any exceptions”
Nob Hill pizza isn’t to bad, but for great pizza you have to cross the bay and go to Zachary’s in Berkeley. Better Indian food in Berkeley too.
Just for the experience, try one of the Cafe Gratitude. The food is good, but the experience is…weird. Imagine McDonalds went New Age-y. That’s what the service is like.
Sock Puppet of the Great Satan
Isn’t Helmand Restaurant owned by Hamid Karzai’s family?
Good food, anyway.
vaux-rien
I remember that Chinese sparerib pizza but I don’t remember where it was from. Some place in the Mission though, possibly out past the Valencia intersection, around 30th St.? But yeah, probably it closed 20 years ago and I’m sure the pizza wasn’t good otherwise.
For burritos I’m pretty firm on Pancho Villa/El Toro. Farolito is good for a meatier, greasier version, I lived on that block for years but I mostly got their tortas. You can’t go very wrong as long as you stick to the Mission, the rest of the city all bets are off, it would be safer to go to Chipotle.
If you had any reason to go to Noe Valley they have my favorite sushi, Hamano, and my favorite Chinese, Eric’s. You could wander down from there to the Lone Palm, Make Out Room, 500 Club and end up in the after-bar line at El Farolito.
And I would definitely try to get to the Tonga Room at the Fairmont if I were visiting, best to go for the happy hour buffet. And Chez Panisse possibly.
Nied
Oh I forgot one!
Custom Burger on 7th St just past Mission. A burger joint with a dizzying array of customizations available. Get the half and half fries (half potato half sweet potato). Bonus: Giant Oil Painting of a guy in a Mustard bottle costume.
And I’ll second the Ferry building visit, my wife was a manager at Acme Bread before we moved, and one of the perks of the job was that she got two free loaves of bread every day, it spoiled us good. Since we moved to Boston we have found a decent bread place, but having to pay for it still stings occasionally. There are few better things to eat than an Acme bread sourdough baguette, some extra sharp aged cheddar, and a pint of Guinness.
kindness
Yes, yes and yes. Lot’s of great SF recomendations.
Hey, rent a bicycle and ride around Golden Gate Park & Ocean Beach. Have a beer at the Brewery right across from it, nice view…beer is still better in Toronado.
Hit a concert. Great American Music Hall, The Fillmore or The Warfield. Go to Oakland too. The Paramount Theater or The Fox.
We understand you don’t want to meet us. It would be bedlam & trying to decide where to go or go next would be like herding 100 Tunchs.
Erik Vanderhoff
Go to Commonwealth in the Mission.
kindness
Almost forgot….many of us are carded out here. If you would like to avail yourself to Medical Yerba Buena…..well let us know.
gaderson
@Stan:
Still haven’t made it up to Toronado, but, if your down close to SoMa, on Folsom just before 8th, check out The City Beer Store, not as comprehensive as Toronado, but, still an amazing selection, and a revolving set of 6 beers on tap. And if you’re there on a Friday walk across the street towards the old gas station/garage and get an escargot puff lollipop at Spencer On The Go who you might have seen on Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race”–it’s French food out of a truck–the lamb cheek sandwich is quite good.