Just back from San Francisco
Jun 22nd, 2008, 02:32 PM
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Just back from San Francisco
We just got back from a lovely 3 days in San Francisco! We arrived on Monday evening, and it was very cold, but we hopped on the cable car outside our hotel anyway, and headed for North Beach, where we headed for Coit Tower, and later had dinner at L'Osteria del Forno. We both had the roast pork, and it was quite good. I thought it might stay cold the entire time, but the weather was gorgeous the rest of the time. On Tuesday, we went on the boat tour of the Bay that was included in our CityPass. We had eaten breakfast at Buena Vista Cafe, and we ate so much that we weren't hungry for lunch for some time -- we'd planned on lunch at Scoma's right after the boat tour, but went souvenir shopping and to the Aquarium of the Bay instead, where my husband pet a Ray and a shark. We also had to get some shots of the sea lions at Pier 39 for our oldest granddaughter -- she was very interested 
My husband sent her a picture on his phone, and we called her to let her hear them barking. Finally, we headed to Scoma's for the Prix Fixe lunch, and it was as good as we remembered -- Petite Dungeness Crab salad, with a lot of crab, a bowl of wonderful clam chowder, and the dessert was really yummy. We had chocolate torte with raspberry sauce and whipped cream -- not the fake stuff. The next day we took the Victorian Home Tour, and it was fantastic! Our guide was very knowledgeable, telling us about the different styles of architecture, and we got to go in the rooms of the Queen Anne Hotel. After that, we went to Yank Sing for a late lunch, and it was okay, but don't think it was worth the price. We didn't have that much to eat, but now I know what Dim Sum is. I doubt we'd go back, though. We much preferred Brandy Ho's, though the next time I will definitely order mild, not medium We didn't make any reservations, as we went early enough that none of the restaurants were crowded. Our favorite places were Swan's Oyster Depot and Boulangerie de Polk. We had shrimp cocktails at Swan's Oyster Depot before taking the Orange Line to the Tadich Grill for dinner, where we had sand dabs. One day we went to the Top of the Mark at sunset, and it was beautiful! We went to the Mission, but it was late in the day, so we just went to La Tartine for a Banana chocolate tart. Mmmm... We wanted to go to the Mission Delores, but with only 3 days and the first evening, our time flew by! Next time, we will definitely stay a little longer. The last day, we had breakfast at Cliff House. The food was better than I expected -- good popovers -- but the real reason we went there was for the view. We arrived early and had our choice of tables by the window. Then, we walked down the road to catch the #5 bus to Golden Gate Park, where we went to the Japanese Tea Garden, and had tea in the tea house. Last time we went there it was raining, so it was nice to see it with the sun shining. We went to the de Young museum and went up to the top for the view, and then headed back on the bus -- we'd forgotten the Legion of Honor. From there, we took the #18 bus to where we picked up the #38L to go to Polk Street for the Swan Oyster Depot. We enjoyed talking to the servers at Swan's, and they were very helpful in suggesting we go to the Ferry Building when we got off the Orange Line, as we had an hour or so before dinner. I brought back sausages from Molinari's other store -- can't remember the name -- for our kids. Next time, we'll check there first, as there were lots of other things we could have brought back. Oh, one other thing! We went to the San Francisco Art Institute, to see the Diego Rivera mural. After that, we ended up walking up Lombard Street -- my knees survived LOL! As I read over my trip report, it looks like all we did was eat.
My husband sent her a picture on his phone, and we called her to let her hear them barking. Finally, we headed to Scoma's for the Prix Fixe lunch, and it was as good as we remembered -- Petite Dungeness Crab salad, with a lot of crab, a bowl of wonderful clam chowder, and the dessert was really yummy. We had chocolate torte with raspberry sauce and whipped cream -- not the fake stuff. The next day we took the Victorian Home Tour, and it was fantastic! Our guide was very knowledgeable, telling us about the different styles of architecture, and we got to go in the rooms of the Queen Anne Hotel. After that, we went to Yank Sing for a late lunch, and it was okay, but don't think it was worth the price. We didn't have that much to eat, but now I know what Dim Sum is. I doubt we'd go back, though. We much preferred Brandy Ho's, though the next time I will definitely order mild, not medium We didn't make any reservations, as we went early enough that none of the restaurants were crowded. Our favorite places were Swan's Oyster Depot and Boulangerie de Polk. We had shrimp cocktails at Swan's Oyster Depot before taking the Orange Line to the Tadich Grill for dinner, where we had sand dabs. One day we went to the Top of the Mark at sunset, and it was beautiful! We went to the Mission, but it was late in the day, so we just went to La Tartine for a Banana chocolate tart. Mmmm... We wanted to go to the Mission Delores, but with only 3 days and the first evening, our time flew by! Next time, we will definitely stay a little longer. The last day, we had breakfast at Cliff House. The food was better than I expected -- good popovers -- but the real reason we went there was for the view. We arrived early and had our choice of tables by the window. Then, we walked down the road to catch the #5 bus to Golden Gate Park, where we went to the Japanese Tea Garden, and had tea in the tea house. Last time we went there it was raining, so it was nice to see it with the sun shining. We went to the de Young museum and went up to the top for the view, and then headed back on the bus -- we'd forgotten the Legion of Honor. From there, we took the #18 bus to where we picked up the #38L to go to Polk Street for the Swan Oyster Depot. We enjoyed talking to the servers at Swan's, and they were very helpful in suggesting we go to the Ferry Building when we got off the Orange Line, as we had an hour or so before dinner. I brought back sausages from Molinari's other store -- can't remember the name -- for our kids. Next time, we'll check there first, as there were lots of other things we could have brought back. Oh, one other thing! We went to the San Francisco Art Institute, to see the Diego Rivera mural. After that, we ended up walking up Lombard Street -- my knees survived LOL! As I read over my trip report, it looks like all we did was eat.
Jun 22nd, 2008, 02:55 PM
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Seems like you had a great, fun filled, busy time.
I could feel your enthusiasm in the report but a hint for future trip reports - use paragraphs to make it easier to read.
Glad you had a such a grand trip.
Deb
I could feel your enthusiasm in the report but a hint for future trip reports - use paragraphs to make it easier to read.
Glad you had a such a grand trip.
Deb
Jun 23rd, 2008, 12:16 PM
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You were definitely busy, I am tired just reading your report
Sandy, what is the orange line? Don't think I've heard of it, you mentioned it here:
"We enjoyed talking to the servers at Swan's, and they were very helpful in suggesting we go to the Ferry Building when we got off the Orange Line, as we had an hour or so before dinner."
Sandy, what is the orange line? Don't think I've heard of it, you mentioned it here:
"We enjoyed talking to the servers at Swan's, and they were very helpful in suggesting we go to the Ferry Building when we got off the Orange Line, as we had an hour or so before dinner."
Jun 23rd, 2008, 04:27 PM
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Hi Faina,
Sorry about that
I was writing this trip report in a hurry, as my husband was waiting for me to go out to dinner. I meant the California Cable car. I think I was thinking of the F line, which is sometimes orange, isn't it? Anyway, I should take more time editing. I could have saved it in my e-mail drafts and gone back to it, but I always have problems when I write in e-mail and copy and paste.You're right...we did a lot in a very short time. We were so exhausted when we got home that we slept 9 hours!
Sandy
yeah, it is!
Jun 24th, 2008, 10:34 AM
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Kal,
We did a lot, but we would have liked to have stayed longer in some places, such as Golden Gate Park and the museums. We had to pick what we really wanted to see.
I think the Victorian Home tour was some of the best time we spent! Here's the link:
http://www.victorianwalk.com/
Sandy
We did a lot, but we would have liked to have stayed longer in some places, such as Golden Gate Park and the museums. We had to pick what we really wanted to see.
I think the Victorian Home tour was some of the best time we spent! Here's the link:
http://www.victorianwalk.com/
Sandy
Jun 24th, 2008, 10:39 AM
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5alive,
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it I was thinking that it was Kal who wanted the link, so I posted it in my reply to him. I'll post it again, just in case you didn't see it. I think you would really enjoy it. Our guide was very good, and we learned a lot about the different types of architecture. There's no way we would have found all those beautiful homes without taking the tour. Also, I appreciated the fact that she avoided the hills. Transportation is included.
Sandy
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it
I was thinking that it was Kal who wanted the link, so I posted it in my reply to him. I'll post it again, just in case you didn't see it. I think you would really enjoy it. Our guide was very good, and we learned a lot about the different types of architecture. There's no way we would have found all those beautiful homes without taking the tour. Also, I appreciated the fact that she avoided the hills. Transportation is included.Sandy
Jun 24th, 2008, 10:40 AM
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Jun 24th, 2008, 03:52 PM
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Thx Sandyp3.
We were interested in it too.
We have an "in" at the Queen Ann but never take advantage of it.
Maybe this is the year?
I'm dying for a Buena Vista Cafe breakfast with an Irish Coffee or three.
We were interested in it too.
We have an "in" at the Queen Ann but never take advantage of it.
Maybe this is the year?
I'm dying for a Buena Vista Cafe breakfast with an Irish Coffee or three.
Jun 29th, 2008, 10:09 AM
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Kal,
You're very welcome The Queen Anne was lovely! For those who are interested in checking it out, here is the website:
http://www.queenanne.com/
Sandy
You're very welcome
The Queen Anne was lovely! For those who are interested in checking it out, here is the website:http://www.queenanne.com/
Sandy
Jun 29th, 2008, 12:51 PM
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Please let the record show I will not touch that line. 
When I go into Molinari's they ask me if I need any help.
I tell them "No thanks. I'll just stand here and smell".
They told me I did a good job at it.
When I go into Molinari's they ask me if I need any help.
I tell them "No thanks. I'll just stand here and smell".
They told me I did a good job at it.
Jun 29th, 2008, 01:48 PM
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I enjoyed your trip report. I liked the detailed descriptions of your bus routes as I travel that way as well. You do seem to have an appreciation for food so I was a little curious as to why you both got the roast pork at L'Osteria del Forno. Is it that good? Had you been there before? I almost never order the same thing as my partner since I prefer variety in sampling. Hope I'm not being too nosy; just curious as to other philosophies.
Jun 30th, 2008, 10:40 PM
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I love swan's oyster depot, too. Whenever I have a conference in that part of town, I try to leave a little bit early for a lunch at Swan's. What a great old (and teeny!) San Francisco institution. It's so small that I only take one or two buddies, if any, with me. And you're right, the staff are great.
I understand that the founder of Pearl Oyster Bar in NYC was inspired by her great aunt and Swan's!
Regarding the Diego Rivera mural, I was thinking it would be a great double viewing to see his mural and then go to the Frida Kahlo exhibit now at the SF MOMA.
I understand that the founder of Pearl Oyster Bar in NYC was inspired by her great aunt and Swan's!
Regarding the Diego Rivera mural, I was thinking it would be a great double viewing to see his mural and then go to the Frida Kahlo exhibit now at the SF MOMA.
