I am headed to San Francisco for just 2 days at the end of Feb and I just read about a crab festival going on all month. The centerpiece is the Crab & Wine Marketplace at the Fort Mason Center's Festival & Herbst Pavilions.

Have any of you been to this? Is it worth $20 and a spin thru the Pavilions? Is it a madhouse of a crowd? (I go to San Francisco at least once a year so I can skip all the tourist sights.)

Thanks in advance for your replies!!

Anyone?

Melissa: We are going through a terrible storm right now in the Bay Area. Most people don't have electricity or their electricity goes on and off. Give 'em a chance! If you don't get any responses, top your message again!

Hi Melissa: My thoughts are it might be fun, you get a wine glass and some tastes, yet have to purchase other food.
Then again, if you have access to a decent grocery store bring your cracker and picks and buy your own cooked cracked crab-they will clean it for you and it's like $3.00-$4.00 per lb.here
If you can refrigerate in your room-even better! We had it at home for Valentines dinner and there is nothing yummier than cold Dungeness crab. Yes it's a mess to eat, but simple is so good!!! Back to the Festival-I'm not a fan of hugh crowds and this could be the case at this venue.Perhaps others will know better than I (when they get their power back-it's a mess here-and for me local flooding-oh, what fun!)
R5

Melissa: There is a winter long, starting in November just in time for Thanksgiving, Dungeness crab season. And it seems that the SF chamber of commerce has created some kind of celebration of the crab season, news to me. It is my understanding that this alleged centerpiece Fort Mason festival is only in its second year, last year being the first. So it is not a well established event and according to the Fort Mason website the first festival was in their words "overwhelmed by immense crowds". With such a short history, it is hard to tell you what the festival will be like and what to expect. I assume there will be restaurant booths serving different crab dishes and wine and some entertainment. If it is anything like the A La Carte, A La Park you will have to pay separately for food and wine.

Thank you all for your advice!! Still contemplating it...hmm. Sorry to hear you have a storm going on. I hope it clears soon!

do a search on the net there are a few websits that show all the festivals in the country. I understand the largest crab festival to be in Maryland. Ohh Hi Melissa I only read the headling. Wongkee is not enough for you huh???

Melissa have you been to Alice Water's restaurant in S.F? You know she is this generations Julia Child. I would look into that restaurant here and maybe go out to it.Its just outside SF. One of the most important restaurants in the country from what I understand. Can anyone help me with a name here. Have fun Melissa.

Chez Panisse
1517 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley CA

For reservations:
510-548-5049 for Cafe
510-548-5535 for Restaurant

Alohaaa Mels,
Mrs Kal is having her own little "crabfest" right now given the weather in Nor Cal.
A treadmill vs outdoors=no contest.

Hopefully you'll bring some Hawaiian sunshine along with you.

I did hear "Tulipmania" is in town and at Pier 39 from Feb 21/29th.

We caught the tail end one year and is was quite colorful, even tho it was P39.

And all tulip fans know what is better than roses on a piano! :-"

Thanks again!! Sarah, when you live near Won Kee you tend to take it for granted (like my fabulous view of the south shore!). I'll look into other restaurants though. I am travelling solo again so I can probably slip into restaurants easily? I hope.

Kal! You are too funny. I hope I bring sunshine too...I need to do some marathon training, I'm so behind!!