Attn: Love Italy
 

Our trip is less than 10 days away and I am so excited. Thank You to you and all of the "Fodorites" for your wonderful tips.

I have kept our reservations at the Villa Florence and cancelled The Monaco. I am hoping that I will get a chance to stop in The Monaco to take a peak for the next visit.

We have received our Alcatraz tickets. I made reservations at Scala's and then an evening at Harry Denton's Starlight Room for our Anniversary Dinner. I was a bit dissapointed that they did not have the orchestra that evening. I just made reservations for VIP seating at Jazz at Pearls, which I am very excited about. Also we will be biking our way over the GG and eating lunch in Sausalito.

Other points of interest will be the Ferry Building on saturday, Zuni Cafe, Yank Sing, and a day touring Napa Valley with family from Sacramento.

Any other last minute tips?

Not to cut in on your post...LoveItaly helped me out greatly in planning our trip last spring. She is a gem.
One more thing we enjoyed was the Wok Wiz tour in Chinatown. It is a very interesting history lesson on chinatown. Our tour guide was Dorothy who was born and raised there. Then you have a dim sum lunch afterwards. She explained all of the different food choices to me. We had a great time on this tour and I highly recommend it.
We also found the Beach Blanket Babylon show to be a very fun evening.

Please rent helmets for your bike ride! I have noticed so many visitors without them. There's plenty of traffic, particularly on the road down to Sausalito. Have a great time!

If you will be here on Sept 4th, you might consier watching the Tour of San Francisco Bike race. Many of the big names in the Tour de France will ride (Hincapie, Basso, etc). Many streets will be closed off. Perhaps the best venue would be close to the Ferry Building.

Bring lots of layers of clothes - it has been an exceptionally foggy late summer.

Stu Dudley

Stu:

I wish that I had known about the bike race when I made the reservations back in March. My husband loves watching the Tour de France. Unfortunately we are leaving on the 3rd!

As far as packing, I plan on bringing T shirts for under sweaters and a wind jacket. It seems that I have to pack for summer and fall. I easily become chilled. I am trying to pack light because I plan on taking BART from the airport to the hotel.

Stu, have you ever been to Jazz at Pearls?

Catbert, We certainly will rent helmets! Thanks.

>>Stu, have you ever been to Jazz at Pearls?<<

Nope

Stu Dudley

Hi Jazz, I was glad to see your post!
You will be taking BART into SF from SFO...you do know to get off BART at the Powell St., station, right? When you get off of BART walk to the front of the station. Go up the stairs and you will be right on Powell. The Villa Florence will be just a couple of blocks up Powell. If you get any request for "donations" from the homeless I would suggest you just ignore it.

I am sorry that you will not have the orchestra at the Starlight Room but am sure you will enjoy your visit there anyway. And I sure hope you enjoy Scala's as much as I and my friends do.

You have received other good advise here. I am glad girlonthego posted because I was thinking of the Chinatown walk but could not remember the name. And BBB is a great idea also.

If you have time and the inclination, a cocktail at the Top of the Mark at the Mark Hopkins Hotel is always nice with a great view.

When you are at the Ferry Bldg, if you have time, go across the Embarcadero and turn left and than right onto Mission. The entrance to the new Hotel Vitale is right there. You might enjoy peeking in and having a look at it.

Layering is a good idea for SF. SF weather can change so quickly and different areas have different weather patterns and temps.

Jazz, wishes to you two for a beautiful wedding anniversary trip. I will be thinking of you! Let us know abuout the fun you had when you get home and settled in.

I am going to Jazz at Pearls for New Years Eve. Can't wait!