A quick weekend in SF
May 14th, 2009, 04:10 PM
#21
Whew! Back again. 340 miles later, I'm home with a good computer connection.
Sean Astin = a gentle giant? He always seemed short to me.
No, I saw Sean on The View the week before I left - and that's when I heard his mom had joined Wicked in SF - but her youngest son was with his dad (her current husband of 20 years) at the play. According to wiki he's adopted. Nice kid - maybe late teens/early 20's - but very tall and a big guy all around.
Sean Astin = a gentle giant? He always seemed short to me.
No, I saw Sean on The View the week before I left - and that's when I heard his mom had joined Wicked in SF - but her youngest son was with his dad (her current husband of 20 years) at the play. According to wiki he's adopted. Nice kid - maybe late teens/early 20's - but very tall and a big guy all around.
May 14th, 2009, 04:22 PM
#22
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starrs - very nice report, but I keep reading and waiting to hear that you had the hot chocolate at Boulette's Larder in the Ferry building! What could have gone wrong, pray tell???? If you didn't have it, you have to go back immediately!!!
May 14th, 2009, 04:34 PM
#23
The Magical Night - Riding the Rails, continued...
We walked the short blocks from the hotel to the Powell turnaround, boarded a cable car (no line at that time of night - about 9ish), settled in at the front on the left and got ready for a magical ride. It was so much fun with the stars above, the lights around and the camardarie on the car. A great start to the night!
At the end of the line near the Wharf we walked over to the pickup point of the trolley car and rode in a vintage trolley car along the waterfront, turning at the Ferry Building, all the way up Market Street, to the end of the line at Castro.
http://sanfrancisco.about.com/od/mun...iandmaps_9.htm
We got out at the end of the line and had a nice time just wandering around the neighborhood. It was early for the nightlife (around 10ish now) but enjoyed strolling arm in arm, stopping in a couple of shops and just having a good time together. The most memorable sight was the guy that would put NYC's Times Square "The Naked Cowboy" to shame. This guy WAS naked...okay, okay, he was wearing a nordic wool cap on this head, but other than that.... wandering around having a good time catching the attention of folks and posing for a few pictures.
The movie Milk was still in theatres and a few of the movie posters were in his otherwise empty storefront. That was pretty cool. We weren't really hungry, but needed some change for the return on the street car so we ducked into the Hot Cookie for some cookies to go and a couple of waters. A bought a couple of cookies for the next day and a couple of minis for "now" and chatted with some guys waiting for the trolley car. Back down Market, off at 4th and on to the hotel to rest up for the next day.
A great (easy and inexpensive) night tour of San Francisco - from the end of one line (cable car) to the other (trolley/ streetcar). One of the best SF memories EVER!
We walked the short blocks from the hotel to the Powell turnaround, boarded a cable car (no line at that time of night - about 9ish), settled in at the front on the left and got ready for a magical ride. It was so much fun with the stars above, the lights around and the camardarie on the car. A great start to the night!
At the end of the line near the Wharf we walked over to the pickup point of the trolley car and rode in a vintage trolley car along the waterfront, turning at the Ferry Building, all the way up Market Street, to the end of the line at Castro.
http://sanfrancisco.about.com/od/mun...iandmaps_9.htm
We got out at the end of the line and had a nice time just wandering around the neighborhood. It was early for the nightlife (around 10ish now) but enjoyed strolling arm in arm, stopping in a couple of shops and just having a good time together. The most memorable sight was the guy that would put NYC's Times Square "The Naked Cowboy" to shame. This guy WAS naked...okay, okay, he was wearing a nordic wool cap on this head, but other than that.... wandering around having a good time catching the attention of folks and posing for a few pictures.
The movie Milk was still in theatres and a few of the movie posters were in his otherwise empty storefront. That was pretty cool. We weren't really hungry, but needed some change for the return on the street car so we ducked into the Hot Cookie for some cookies to go and a couple of waters. A bought a couple of cookies for the next day and a couple of minis for "now" and chatted with some guys waiting for the trolley car. Back down Market, off at 4th and on to the hotel to rest up for the next day.
A great (easy and inexpensive) night tour of San Francisco - from the end of one line (cable car) to the other (trolley/ streetcar). One of the best SF memories EVER!
May 14th, 2009, 05:17 PM
#24
Note to self: Don't wait 6 weeks to write a trip report - or at least make some notes...
On the drive home, I was wondering "What about dinner on Saturday night? I'm sure we ate dinner!" but couldn't remember. Now, I do!
I forgot the middle part of the day. DF's last session was to end about 4:30 - 5 and we were to meet at the Ferry Building. He wanted to take the ferry over to Sausalito to have dinner there, before coming back. Sooo, I wander the Ferry Building a bit, waiting for him and just before he was to arrive I walked to the ticket booth.
Uh-oh. On weekends, there isn't a later ferry that would give us enough time to have dinner and get back. I knew this would be a problem, because the ferry to Sausolito is one of his "traditions". I started scrambling for options. I asked the woman in the booth for recommendations and she gave me the name of her favorite place, but warned it was pricey. At least I had a new option to share when DF arrived.
I was about to settle in for a glass of wine at the wine bar when my cell phone rang and he was there. We strolled the building discussing the options and then I mentioned the new place. I had noticed it on my walks back and forth (but had not noticed it in the Fodors guidebook). We decided to give it a try. We walked in WITHOUT a reservation, got what I think was the last available table (because it was early) and settled into a new favorite SF restaurant.
Boulevard
Here's some shots of the interior -
http://www.boulevardrestaurant.com/gallery_int.html
Here's the menu -
http://www.boulevardrestaurant.com/menu.html
The decor, the service, the food = all sublime
We shared a starter -
Monterey calamari stuffed with Dungeness crab, served with Italian butter bean with Spanish chorizo & Meyer Lemon Relsih.
OMG! Unbelievably good.
I ordered the halibut, he ordered the Angus filet mignon, and we were very, very happy diners!
Okay, now, back to the hotel, for a rest, fall asleep, wake up dioriented and deciding what to do for the rest of the evening? Movie in the room? No! Off to the cable cars (DF's GREAT idea) Back on track...
On the drive home, I was wondering "What about dinner on Saturday night? I'm sure we ate dinner!" but couldn't remember. Now, I do!
I forgot the middle part of the day. DF's last session was to end about 4:30 - 5 and we were to meet at the Ferry Building. He wanted to take the ferry over to Sausalito to have dinner there, before coming back. Sooo, I wander the Ferry Building a bit, waiting for him and just before he was to arrive I walked to the ticket booth.
Uh-oh. On weekends, there isn't a later ferry that would give us enough time to have dinner and get back. I knew this would be a problem, because the ferry to Sausolito is one of his "traditions". I started scrambling for options. I asked the woman in the booth for recommendations and she gave me the name of her favorite place, but warned it was pricey. At least I had a new option to share when DF arrived.
I was about to settle in for a glass of wine at the wine bar when my cell phone rang and he was there. We strolled the building discussing the options and then I mentioned the new place. I had noticed it on my walks back and forth (but had not noticed it in the Fodors guidebook). We decided to give it a try. We walked in WITHOUT a reservation, got what I think was the last available table (because it was early) and settled into a new favorite SF restaurant.
Boulevard
Here's some shots of the interior -
http://www.boulevardrestaurant.com/gallery_int.html
Here's the menu -
http://www.boulevardrestaurant.com/menu.html
The decor, the service, the food = all sublime
We shared a starter -
Monterey calamari stuffed with Dungeness crab, served with Italian butter bean with Spanish chorizo & Meyer Lemon Relsih.
OMG! Unbelievably good.
I ordered the halibut, he ordered the Angus filet mignon, and we were very, very happy diners!
Okay, now, back to the hotel, for a rest, fall asleep, wake up dioriented and deciding what to do for the rest of the evening? Movie in the room? No! Off to the cable cars (DF's GREAT idea) Back on track...
May 14th, 2009, 06:00 PM
#25
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"No notes"?
Wow. Great memory!
And thx for the heads up on your return visit. HARUUMMMPH
Still kicking myself for missing your last trip out here. It looked like a good time. Even if Faiyenu was there.
Just for that, I'll do an under the radar trip to Atlanta.
It looks like you were using ***kim's*** camera!
BTW the nickname of that Marriott is The Juke Box Marriott.
Wow. Great memory!
And thx for the heads up on your return visit. HARUUMMMPH
Still kicking myself for missing your last trip out here. It looked like a good time. Even if Faiyenu was there.
Just for that, I'll do an under the radar trip to Atlanta.
It looks like you were using ***kim's*** camera!
BTW the nickname of that Marriott is The Juke Box Marriott.
May 14th, 2009, 07:03 PM
#26
Day 3 (Sunday) - another day that I had pretty much planned, leaving the evening open for whatever DF wanted to do.
Well, he woke up on Sunday morning and wanted to go for breakfast and blow off his first session. I scrambled to figure out how to get the rest of the day to fit
We walked a block away to a diner. Mel's Drive In. I'd walked past it numerous times during other convention stays and never had any desire to go. But, it was that or Denny's and so we went -
http://www.melsdrive-in.com/hoursand...ionstreet.html
Loud. Mediocre food. Pricey. DF was on expense account, but not me. We had LOVED the 24 hour diner down the street from the Monaco last year. Not this place. Families, beware. I can't imagine paying for a family's breakfast here.
Said my goodbyes to DF as he returned to the conference and I headed to church. Now, the second service rather than the early service. Destination - Glide Memorial Methodist Church
http://www.glide.org/Celebrations.aspx
I was a bit early so I stopped by the restroom at the Hilton and hung out in the lobby for a few minutes. The church website said to get there 30 minutes before the service but when I walked out the lobby doors, the line had already started for the next service.
If you saw the Will Smith movie, the Pursuit of Happyness, you may remember the church service in that movie -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-T1GZ0qxXQ
I attend an intown United Methodist Church that is very active in my city's homeless community and is very GLBT inclusive. Glide is as well, but at warp speed. They feed the homeless three meals a day. The congregation is very diverse and the church is very inclusive. The service is far from a "normal" Methodist church service - think Pentacostal or Baptist church meeting. Ushers continually walk the aisles offering fans and Kleenex. One of the soloists and lay speakers was very Southern (Alabama, I think) and her elderly parents and equally funny brother were there to share the day with her. The music was fabulous. It was an amazing service. I talked to quite a few people - visitors and members - and were enthralled with their stories they shared. It was a wonderful, uplifting, joyful worship service. Amazing.
One of my favorite SF memories - ever. Another (new) one
Well, he woke up on Sunday morning and wanted to go for breakfast and blow off his first session. I scrambled to figure out how to get the rest of the day to fit
We walked a block away to a diner. Mel's Drive In. I'd walked past it numerous times during other convention stays and never had any desire to go. But, it was that or Denny's and so we went -
http://www.melsdrive-in.com/hoursand...ionstreet.html
Loud. Mediocre food. Pricey. DF was on expense account, but not me. We had LOVED the 24 hour diner down the street from the Monaco last year. Not this place. Families, beware. I can't imagine paying for a family's breakfast here.
Said my goodbyes to DF as he returned to the conference and I headed to church. Now, the second service rather than the early service. Destination - Glide Memorial Methodist Church
http://www.glide.org/Celebrations.aspx
I was a bit early so I stopped by the restroom at the Hilton and hung out in the lobby for a few minutes. The church website said to get there 30 minutes before the service but when I walked out the lobby doors, the line had already started for the next service.
If you saw the Will Smith movie, the Pursuit of Happyness, you may remember the church service in that movie -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-T1GZ0qxXQ
I attend an intown United Methodist Church that is very active in my city's homeless community and is very GLBT inclusive. Glide is as well, but at warp speed. They feed the homeless three meals a day. The congregation is very diverse and the church is very inclusive. The service is far from a "normal" Methodist church service - think Pentacostal or Baptist church meeting. Ushers continually walk the aisles offering fans and Kleenex. One of the soloists and lay speakers was very Southern (Alabama, I think) and her elderly parents and equally funny brother were there to share the day with her. The music was fabulous. It was an amazing service. I talked to quite a few people - visitors and members - and were enthralled with their stories they shared. It was a wonderful, uplifting, joyful worship service. Amazing.
One of my favorite SF memories - ever. Another (new) one
May 14th, 2009, 07:27 PM
#27
The Ferry Building tour was so good I knew I wanted to do another one. I chose the Noe Valley tour, because I had never been to the Noe Valley. I grabbed a cab at the Hilton and we headed out. The tour started at the Public Library and the cab driver had difficulty finding it. I used my map to help navigate and we wandered a bit. We couldn't figure out how we had missed it, so he stopped to ask a walker for directions and we had driven right past it. I arrived with 1 minute to spare.
http://www.sfcityguides.org/desc.html?tour=55
The start of the tour was good with a discussion of the Carnegie endowments for libraries, but it shortly (very shortly) tanked. The volunterr guide volunteered that this was her second time leading a tour. She had a large group (about 30 at the beginning of the tour). The day was HOT - and many of the visitors weren't dressed for such a hot day. My big mistake was slipon clogs that were shearling lined. Can we say "stupid"? Walking the hills on SF on a very hot day in shearling lined clogs. Dang! Where were my Crocs?!?!
If the guide studied any notes or did any research, it would have been a surprise to us. She was very nervous but had very little to share. She had absolutely no sense of guiding. Several times during the tour, the group was spread out over three blocks, and she never looked back to see where folks where - nor waited before she talked. We had two elderly women with us including a woman who had lived on the blocks were walked and now lived in Diamond Heights. Another woman had grown up on the same block as Lick Middle School. She just shook her head in disgust at the babbling of the young tour guide. Once, after telling the group "No more hills", she headed straight up a very steep hill with all but two of us following. One poor woman and her husband waited at the bottom of the hill and mumbled and grumbled the entire time. The reason for the unplanned trek up the hill? To show us a modern house that happened to be for sale. We trekked back down the hill and at that point I decided that this was not a good use of my time.
I enjoyed the commentary of the Diamond Heights woman who had lived in the area for decades and the woman who grew up there. I took pictures of the woman standing on her front stoop pointing at the duplex doors - her grandmothers shared the left side of the house and her parents and siblings lived on the right. The tour guide had stopped in the middle of a driveway when a car slowed down and then started honking. The tour guide didn't move. Finally, the passenger window comes down and the woman says "This is OUR house". The guide moves the group down a few doors, and our little group at the end was told that they were bringing home their baby from the hospital. It was a very sweet moment to see the new parents take their baby into the house for the first time.
We caught up with the group at the bottom of the hill and the tour guide pointed out Carlos Santana's signature in the cement and mentioned that he paid for a Peace Garden in front of the school he had attended. The next stop was a mauve house, and the older woman muttered "It's JUST a house!". She said her goodbyes to our little back of the line group and I decided she had a great idea. At the next intersection, I asked for directions and headed out. I did tell a couple of folks I was going - in case the guide ever looked back and noticed folks were gone. I'm sure she never did
Once I left the tour, the day turned brighter. I really enjoyed the houses, the details, the gardens and all the open house signs as I headed to my next destination... a tea room!
http://www.sfcityguides.org/desc.html?tour=55
The start of the tour was good with a discussion of the Carnegie endowments for libraries, but it shortly (very shortly) tanked. The volunterr guide volunteered that this was her second time leading a tour. She had a large group (about 30 at the beginning of the tour). The day was HOT - and many of the visitors weren't dressed for such a hot day. My big mistake was slipon clogs that were shearling lined. Can we say "stupid"? Walking the hills on SF on a very hot day in shearling lined clogs. Dang! Where were my Crocs?!?!
If the guide studied any notes or did any research, it would have been a surprise to us. She was very nervous but had very little to share. She had absolutely no sense of guiding. Several times during the tour, the group was spread out over three blocks, and she never looked back to see where folks where - nor waited before she talked. We had two elderly women with us including a woman who had lived on the blocks were walked and now lived in Diamond Heights. Another woman had grown up on the same block as Lick Middle School. She just shook her head in disgust at the babbling of the young tour guide. Once, after telling the group "No more hills", she headed straight up a very steep hill with all but two of us following. One poor woman and her husband waited at the bottom of the hill and mumbled and grumbled the entire time. The reason for the unplanned trek up the hill? To show us a modern house that happened to be for sale. We trekked back down the hill and at that point I decided that this was not a good use of my time.
I enjoyed the commentary of the Diamond Heights woman who had lived in the area for decades and the woman who grew up there. I took pictures of the woman standing on her front stoop pointing at the duplex doors - her grandmothers shared the left side of the house and her parents and siblings lived on the right. The tour guide had stopped in the middle of a driveway when a car slowed down and then started honking. The tour guide didn't move. Finally, the passenger window comes down and the woman says "This is OUR house". The guide moves the group down a few doors, and our little group at the end was told that they were bringing home their baby from the hospital. It was a very sweet moment to see the new parents take their baby into the house for the first time.
We caught up with the group at the bottom of the hill and the tour guide pointed out Carlos Santana's signature in the cement and mentioned that he paid for a Peace Garden in front of the school he had attended. The next stop was a mauve house, and the older woman muttered "It's JUST a house!". She said her goodbyes to our little back of the line group and I decided she had a great idea. At the next intersection, I asked for directions and headed out. I did tell a couple of folks I was going - in case the guide ever looked back and noticed folks were gone. I'm sure she never did
Once I left the tour, the day turned brighter. I really enjoyed the houses, the details, the gardens and all the open house signs as I headed to my next destination... a tea room!
May 14th, 2009, 07:43 PM
#28
Now for the good stuff -
http://www.lovejoystearoom.com/About/aboutus.html
Lovejoy's Tea Room
Delightful!
I was looking for something nice for DF's DD and I to do on a Sunday afternoon and thought a tea room would be nice. I posted a question on the board, but no one had tried it.
TRY IT!
DD was back in Atlanta that weekend (and posting on Facebook from Krispy Kreme that morning ) but I was so enchanted with the website I decided to go solo. It was wonderful. Just a darling place with mismatched china and stuff all around and WONDERFUL teas! Behind me was a bridal party, to the side was a wedding shower, in the corner was a family birthday celebration and scattered around the room were tables of friends and couples. I just loved the place. (Can you tell?)
I chose the one of the herbal teas - vanilla rooibas and the high tea service and settled back and tried to forget the Noe Valley walking tour
Oh, if you think you want to stay in the Noe Valley, this place looked wonderful - http://www.hidden-cottage.com/
Tea over. Picked up the J MUNI line right outside the door. Headed back into the city and enjoyed the ride back. Did I mention that the day was very, very HOT? Two families with little ones got on and one family was on the way to Zoe's birthday party in Delores Park. When we pulled up to the park, the little girl was amazed! The mom shared that perhaps everyone that was there weren't there for Zoe's party. The dad across the aisle suggested they crash Zoe's party if it was this big of a hit.
The park was packed on a sunny day. We were stopped there for a while, and I saw something I never expected to see in April in San Francisco. A (bit chubby) man wearing an electric blue Speedo. Ah, the sunworshipers were out for a beautiful day in a city park
http://www.lovejoystearoom.com/About/aboutus.html
Lovejoy's Tea Room
Delightful!
I was looking for something nice for DF's DD and I to do on a Sunday afternoon and thought a tea room would be nice. I posted a question on the board, but no one had tried it.
TRY IT!
DD was back in Atlanta that weekend (and posting on Facebook from Krispy Kreme that morning
) but I was so enchanted with the website I decided to go solo. It was wonderful. Just a darling place with mismatched china and stuff all around and WONDERFUL teas! Behind me was a bridal party, to the side was a wedding shower, in the corner was a family birthday celebration and scattered around the room were tables of friends and couples. I just loved the place. (Can you tell?)I chose the one of the herbal teas - vanilla rooibas and the high tea service and settled back and tried to forget the Noe Valley walking tour
Oh, if you think you want to stay in the Noe Valley, this place looked wonderful - http://www.hidden-cottage.com/
Tea over. Picked up the J MUNI line right outside the door. Headed back into the city and enjoyed the ride back. Did I mention that the day was very, very HOT? Two families with little ones got on and one family was on the way to Zoe's birthday party in Delores Park. When we pulled up to the park, the little girl was amazed! The mom shared that perhaps everyone that was there weren't there for Zoe's party. The dad across the aisle suggested they crash Zoe's party if it was this big of a hit.
The park was packed on a sunny day. We were stopped there for a while, and I saw something I never expected to see in April in San Francisco. A (bit chubby) man wearing an electric blue Speedo. Ah, the sunworshipers were out for a beautiful day in a city park
May 14th, 2009, 08:23 PM
#30
It was a blast, ty!
I couldn't remember what you ordered for us -
Beef noodles, onion pancake, pork dumplings, something else, and the curry dish? What am I forgetting - or getting wrong?
All of it was delicious!
I couldn't remember what you ordered for us -
Beef noodles, onion pancake, pork dumplings, something else, and the curry dish? What am I forgetting - or getting wrong?
All of it was delicious!
May 14th, 2009, 09:44 PM
#33
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you went to a couple of my most favourite places!
boulevard and lovejoy.
did you check out their antique store across the street for some great china?
glide memorial is pretty special.
dd and i volunteer there each summer and the number of people we serve at each meal is staggering.
we have gotten to know a few of the regulars and it is pretty cool to watch and hear dd with them talking about music and what got them into the homeless situation.
many of them could be ordinary folks like you and me - with a twist of bad luck.
kenneth cole has a new ad campaign designed around glide.
boulevard and lovejoy.
did you check out their antique store across the street for some great china?
glide memorial is pretty special.
dd and i volunteer there each summer and the number of people we serve at each meal is staggering.
we have gotten to know a few of the regulars and it is pretty cool to watch and hear dd with them talking about music and what got them into the homeless situation.
many of them could be ordinary folks like you and me - with a twist of bad luck.
kenneth cole has a new ad campaign designed around glide.
May 15th, 2009, 05:06 AM
#34
abranz, I'm so glad someone else is in love with Lovejoy's! I will definitely go back. In fact, I'd love to own a place like that. I DIDN'T go to the store across the street. I had less time to play with than expected, and was sure I'd be tempted...and if there's one thing I don't need more of it would be china!
Glide was very special. ellenm invited me to join her at her church in NYC and now Glide in SF. It means a lot to me that there are churches like those serving others. And, I completely agree that many are "ordinary folks like you and me - with a twist of bad luck". That's what so scary about the economy right now.
cpg, NO! I DIDN'T!
I fully intended to, but was never there at a time I was ready for hot chocolate. I will return though - and maybe will see you and cmcfong there making difficult choices. Maybe Sunday brunch would be a good time for a mini-GTG -
http://www.bouletteslarder.com/menus/menu_brunch.pdf
I DID stop here to buy some amazing "cherry bomb" chocolates to take home as gifts - along with a bar of one of their delicious chocolates. DF has a sweet tooth so I took a little box of treats back to the hotel - but only managed to get a taste or two
http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace....fen_berger.php
Glide was very special. ellenm invited me to join her at her church in NYC and now Glide in SF. It means a lot to me that there are churches like those serving others. And, I completely agree that many are "ordinary folks like you and me - with a twist of bad luck". That's what so scary about the economy right now.
cpg, NO! I DIDN'T!
I fully intended to, but was never there at a time I was ready for hot chocolate. I will return though - and maybe will see you and cmcfong there making difficult choices. Maybe Sunday brunch would be a good time for a mini-GTG -
http://www.bouletteslarder.com/menus/menu_brunch.pdf
I DID stop here to buy some amazing "cherry bomb" chocolates to take home as gifts - along with a bar of one of their delicious chocolates. DF has a sweet tooth so I took a little box of treats back to the hotel - but only managed to get a taste or two
http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace....fen_berger.php
May 15th, 2009, 05:07 PM
#35
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Starrs- I was there last weekend for Mothers Day - we rode the cable car from the Wharf to downtown around midnight and there was a full moon- it was just amazing- would have been very romantic if I had been with a SO- but I was happy to be with daughter
May 18th, 2009, 04:44 PM
#37
Oh, cpg, they looked great! My dad loves chocolate covered cherries. S-B take real cherries with stems, surround one with cherry candy of some kind and then dip the whole thing in chocolate. They are BIG. I took 4 home to dad and he was thrilled! Mom got a bar of lavendar infused chocolate.
May 18th, 2009, 04:46 PM
#38
sunbum, wasn't it great? I can't believe I'd never done it before. Never again - or ALWAYS, I guess. Every trip to SF will have a cable car/ street car round trip night ride from now on
May 18th, 2009, 04:53 PM
#39
Okay, back to the end of Day 3.
I joked on another thread asking about what to pack and I said "American Express". I took 2 pairs of shoes and they just didn't work for this trip. Who knew that SF would have a HEAT WAVE at the beginning of April and my "comfortable" shoes were hot and very uncomfortable. Wrong shoes, wrong socks, lots of walking on hills = my feet were killing me!!!
I knew DF was waiting and I knew I would fly out in less than a day, but I had to buy new shoes.
The location of the hotel is great for shopping - Nordstrom's and the Westfield Shopping Mall. I chose the store that required the least walking....Adidas....walked in and put on new cool socks, told the guy to bring me two pairs of tennis shoes with good arch support and walked out in new shoes. The entire process MAY have taken 10 minutes. On with new yellow (yellow!
) tennis shoes and back to the room. My feet were soooo happy!
I joked on another thread asking about what to pack and I said "American Express". I took 2 pairs of shoes and they just didn't work for this trip. Who knew that SF would have a HEAT WAVE at the beginning of April and my "comfortable" shoes were hot and very uncomfortable. Wrong shoes, wrong socks, lots of walking on hills = my feet were killing me!!!
I knew DF was waiting and I knew I would fly out in less than a day, but I had to buy new shoes.
The location of the hotel is great for shopping - Nordstrom's and the Westfield Shopping Mall. I chose the store that required the least walking....Adidas....walked in and put on new cool socks, told the guy to bring me two pairs of tennis shoes with good arch support and walked out in new shoes. The entire process MAY have taken 10 minutes. On with new yellow (yellow!
) tennis shoes and back to the room. My feet were soooo happy!
May 18th, 2009, 05:39 PM
#40
Night 3 -
Back to the room. DF was already there and resting. Time to get a recap of the day and hear all the great things that had happened. Time to discuss what to do for dinner and the evening.
DF had talked about taking me to the Haight. I had driven through in a limo when I was out there entertaining customers and they wanted to "see some things" on the way back from lunch at Cliff House. (If you haven't been to Cliff House - GO!). I considered a walking tour - and maybe will one day. DF had done his version of "dropping out" during the Summer of Love, but John's Grill figured in that summer as well...and it still is His Favorite. And, given that it was close by, off we went.
http://johnsgrill.com/
John's Grill - the location of one of the GTGs last March. Home of the Maltese Falcon. His father's recommendation when he called to say he needed "real food" during his pseudo-hippie phase in SF. When LoveItaly and I arrived a year earlier, we were told "Your friend is waiting for you at the bar". Seems like a bit of symmetry to end the next year's trip here.
We were seated upstairs and had a great view of the table in front of the windows where so many of us had gathered for a great GTG. I quickly decided on the apppetizer - mussels - and ordered prosecco and we started our meal with a toast to LoveItaly (two of her favorites) and the rest of the Fodorites we spent time with last year.
A great meal. A great time. A great end to the trip.
The trip back was uneventful. I headed out to catch a cab on Monday morning and the Super Shuttle was there ready to go. Off to SFO, no problems checking in and an easy flight home.
Can't wait to go back. Approximately same time, next year
Back to the room. DF was already there and resting. Time to get a recap of the day and hear all the great things that had happened. Time to discuss what to do for dinner and the evening.
DF had talked about taking me to the Haight. I had driven through in a limo when I was out there entertaining customers and they wanted to "see some things" on the way back from lunch at Cliff House. (If you haven't been to Cliff House - GO!). I considered a walking tour - and maybe will one day. DF had done his version of "dropping out" during the Summer of Love, but John's Grill figured in that summer as well...and it still is His Favorite. And, given that it was close by, off we went.
http://johnsgrill.com/
John's Grill - the location of one of the GTGs last March. Home of the Maltese Falcon. His father's recommendation when he called to say he needed "real food" during his pseudo-hippie phase in SF. When LoveItaly and I arrived a year earlier, we were told "Your friend is waiting for you at the bar". Seems like a bit of symmetry to end the next year's trip here.
We were seated upstairs and had a great view of the table in front of the windows where so many of us had gathered for a great GTG. I quickly decided on the apppetizer - mussels - and ordered prosecco and we started our meal with a toast to LoveItaly (two of her favorites) and the rest of the Fodorites we spent time with last year.
A great meal. A great time. A great end to the trip.
The trip back was uneventful. I headed out to catch a cab on Monday morning and the Super Shuttle was there ready to go. Off to SFO, no problems checking in and an easy flight home.
Can't wait to go back. Approximately same time, next year
