San Francisco Engagement
Apr 26th, 2004, 09:59 PM
#21
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Wave organ. If you are there after dark (which I admit may be a random time to propose) the lights of the Golden Gate Bridge are right there--beautiful sight.
Top of Angel Island. I will also second Stow Lake.
Top of Angel Island. I will also second Stow Lake.
Apr 28th, 2004, 03:09 PM
#24
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Take her to dinner on the pier in Sausolito then pop the question on the ferry as it returns across the bay toward the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero.
You'll have the city lights, the bridges....
Lots of potential for what could follow - I leave that to your imagination.
You'll have the city lights, the bridges....
Lots of potential for what could follow - I leave that to your imagination.
Apr 28th, 2004, 05:53 PM
#25
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OK. I'M GOING TO SUGGEST SOMETHING VERY CLOSE TO WHAT OTHERS HAVE SUGGESTED AND SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO APPEAL TO YOU, BUT ALSO QUITE DRAMATIC AND POSSIBLY WITH SOME SHELTER IN CASE OF ADVARESE WEATHER - FORT POINT RIGHT BELOW THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE.
I HAVE FOUND FORT POINT TO BE ONE OF THE LESS VISITED BUT MOST BEAUTIFUL SPOTS. TO GIVE U A BETTER IDEA OF WHY, IT IS A HISTORIC FORT THAT SITS RIGHT UNDER THE GG BRIDGE. ONCE YOU ENTER THE FORT YOU CAN CLIMB UP ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP AND WHAT DO YOU SEE :
THE gg BRIDGE RIGHT ABOVE YOU [SO YOU'RE NOT IN THE MIDTS OF TRAFFIC, BUT RIGHT UNDER THE BRIDGE], THE BAY TO YOUR RIGHT AND THE OCEAN TO YOUR LEFT. THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE THE OCEAN BECOMES THE BAY. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST HISTORIC AND ROMANTIC SPOTS AND NOT VERY TOURISTY OR WELL KNOWN IN MY OPINION. ALSO PRIVATE UNLIKE BEING RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BRIDGE WHERE SHE PROBABLY CAN'T EVEN HEAR YOU PROPOSE AMIDST THAT TRAFFIC NOISE.
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. THE ONLY DOWNSIDE TO THIS SUGGESTION MIGHT BE THAT FORT POINT IS NOT OPEN ANY MORE. IT USED TO BE OPEN TO VISITORS TILL RECENTLY, I HEARD ABOUT IT BEING SHUT DUE TO FEAR OF TERRORISM THREATS, BUT NOT SURE. PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH.
I HAVE FOUND FORT POINT TO BE ONE OF THE LESS VISITED BUT MOST BEAUTIFUL SPOTS. TO GIVE U A BETTER IDEA OF WHY, IT IS A HISTORIC FORT THAT SITS RIGHT UNDER THE GG BRIDGE. ONCE YOU ENTER THE FORT YOU CAN CLIMB UP ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP AND WHAT DO YOU SEE :
THE gg BRIDGE RIGHT ABOVE YOU [SO YOU'RE NOT IN THE MIDTS OF TRAFFIC, BUT RIGHT UNDER THE BRIDGE], THE BAY TO YOUR RIGHT AND THE OCEAN TO YOUR LEFT. THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE THE OCEAN BECOMES THE BAY. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST HISTORIC AND ROMANTIC SPOTS AND NOT VERY TOURISTY OR WELL KNOWN IN MY OPINION. ALSO PRIVATE UNLIKE BEING RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BRIDGE WHERE SHE PROBABLY CAN'T EVEN HEAR YOU PROPOSE AMIDST THAT TRAFFIC NOISE.
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. THE ONLY DOWNSIDE TO THIS SUGGESTION MIGHT BE THAT FORT POINT IS NOT OPEN ANY MORE. IT USED TO BE OPEN TO VISITORS TILL RECENTLY, I HEARD ABOUT IT BEING SHUT DUE TO FEAR OF TERRORISM THREATS, BUT NOT SURE. PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH.
Apr 28th, 2004, 11:22 PM
#26
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I think one can not walk out as far as Fort Point as the poster above wrote. There was an article in todays SF Chronicle which said the National Guard will be leaving that area soon. That being said, I'd still say a proposal will work on the GG Bridge as my sister and brother in law will attest to!
Another suggestion might be Coit Tower..someone who has been there recently might be able to advise.
Another suggestion might be Coit Tower..someone who has been there recently might be able to advise.
Apr 29th, 2004, 05:57 AM
#28
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Alrightee then! Nah, I don't think I'm going to sweep her off her feet at Alcatraz. I don't think I could endure the jokes that could be made from that for days, weeks, and years to come!
Fort Point sounds ~interesting, but it sounds like it's closed anyway. I agree that the middle of the GG bridge has cache (sp?) immediately. I really like the idea of the top of the Marin Headlands (PamSF and others)- is it obnoxiously windy or just windy? It sounds dramatic and I imagine it would give us some alone time to soak in the moment. The atrium bridge at MOMA sounds cool also (thanks Mel) as an indoor option. I may also check out the GG park and Twin Peaks spots (thank you BayArea and gotphish).
I think I have my work cut out. I get out there the 18th for a conference. I'll try to run around to these places for the pre-'pop the question' evaluation! Thanks all. And she wonders why my evenings are busy! I gots plannin' to do... I've been running here and there, looking at rings, reading stuff on SF, yada, yada...
Fort Point sounds ~interesting, but it sounds like it's closed anyway. I agree that the middle of the GG bridge has cache (sp?) immediately. I really like the idea of the top of the Marin Headlands (PamSF and others)- is it obnoxiously windy or just windy? It sounds dramatic and I imagine it would give us some alone time to soak in the moment. The atrium bridge at MOMA sounds cool also (thanks Mel) as an indoor option. I may also check out the GG park and Twin Peaks spots (thank you BayArea and gotphish).
I think I have my work cut out. I get out there the 18th for a conference. I'll try to run around to these places for the pre-'pop the question' evaluation! Thanks all. And she wonders why my evenings are busy! I gots plannin' to do... I've been running here and there, looking at rings, reading stuff on SF, yada, yada...
Apr 29th, 2004, 02:17 PM
#30
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You're welcome. By the way, I have a tendency to skip over words when I type (brain faster or slower than fingers?), and I missed a big one in my last post. What I meant to say was, "I just got 'engaged' in SF myself."
The moment itself will be so romantic that you really can't go wrong with any of these locations, so don't run yourself ragged trying to find the perfect one. I'd tell you where my fiance proposed, but it wouldn't mean anything to you. It was just a boring financial district street. What made it special is that he wasn't supposed to be there. I was in town on a business trip and he was waiting outside the office in a limo when I was supposed to head to the airport. Instead, I got a ring and a weekend in SF, the city where we met and had lived together until we moved to LA last summer.
Lastly, I always wanted to try Aquarello, and it seems like a good choice for a celebratory dinner.
The moment itself will be so romantic that you really can't go wrong with any of these locations, so don't run yourself ragged trying to find the perfect one. I'd tell you where my fiance proposed, but it wouldn't mean anything to you. It was just a boring financial district street. What made it special is that he wasn't supposed to be there. I was in town on a business trip and he was waiting outside the office in a limo when I was supposed to head to the airport. Instead, I got a ring and a weekend in SF, the city where we met and had lived together until we moved to LA last summer.
Lastly, I always wanted to try Aquarello, and it seems like a good choice for a celebratory dinner.
Jun 7th, 2004, 07:06 PM
#34
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WELL! So, I rent a limo to pick us up after dinner at Kokkari. My best friend and his wife are with us, and after champagne at dinner (just to celebrate seeing them, I told her), we took the limo to Palace of Fine Arts for a stroll, then dropped them off at their hotel.
We then went to the far side of the GGB. Unfortunately, the pedestrian walkway is only open during the day, due to the security concerns. I, of course, started to climb the fence, since I was hell-bent on getting out to the middle of the bridge! Very quickly, and very strongly, a voice told me to get off the gate. Didn't sound like I should ignore that one!
So, from the parking lot at the foot of the bridge, overlookin downtown SF, I held her from behind, opened the ring box, and told her I wanted her to be my wife. She didn't say ANYTHING (well, she did start to cry, and I assumed that was good), so after about 30-45 seconds, I said, 'Well, yes or no'. To which she and I started laughing, and she said 'Yes! Yes!'
So the following morning, I had arranged for her to have a massage and a haircut at the Four Seasons, and then we met up with my dad and his wife for lunch in Sausalito. Immediately after getting out of the car, my dad spotted the ring, and the secret was out.
Somewhat of a bummer about the bridge, but it worked out well anyway, and it was a great weekend (BTW, we walked out to the middle of the bridge Sat afternoon after lunch in Sausalito to see how it would have been). She had never been to SF, but fell in love. What a great reason to go back. Probably have to go back and make it to MOMA, and all the other great places everyone mentioned. Thanks again for all your help and suggestions.
Al
We then went to the far side of the GGB. Unfortunately, the pedestrian walkway is only open during the day, due to the security concerns. I, of course, started to climb the fence, since I was hell-bent on getting out to the middle of the bridge! Very quickly, and very strongly, a voice told me to get off the gate. Didn't sound like I should ignore that one!
So, from the parking lot at the foot of the bridge, overlookin downtown SF, I held her from behind, opened the ring box, and told her I wanted her to be my wife. She didn't say ANYTHING (well, she did start to cry, and I assumed that was good), so after about 30-45 seconds, I said, 'Well, yes or no'. To which she and I started laughing, and she said 'Yes! Yes!'
So the following morning, I had arranged for her to have a massage and a haircut at the Four Seasons, and then we met up with my dad and his wife for lunch in Sausalito. Immediately after getting out of the car, my dad spotted the ring, and the secret was out.
Somewhat of a bummer about the bridge, but it worked out well anyway, and it was a great weekend (BTW, we walked out to the middle of the bridge Sat afternoon after lunch in Sausalito to see how it would have been). She had never been to SF, but fell in love. What a great reason to go back. Probably have to go back and make it to MOMA, and all the other great places everyone mentioned. Thanks again for all your help and suggestions.
Al
Jun 7th, 2004, 07:56 PM
#36
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Oh, Alfredo, thanks so much for letting us know what happened! People always say they will, but not everyone does.
So, in the end, it didn't really matter where you proposed, and you still have a great story to tell your kids.
All best wishes to you both. You are obviously a special guy and she must be something special as well to deserve your devotion.
So, in the end, it didn't really matter where you proposed, and you still have a great story to tell your kids.
All best wishes to you both. You are obviously a special guy and she must be something special as well to deserve your devotion.
Jun 7th, 2004, 11:27 PM
#38
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Congratulations..and what a wonderful memory to last a lifetime. As you know, my sister and brother in law became engaged mid-span on the Golden Gate Bridge. Many years later they still like to get GG Bridge memoribilia.So, when's the wedding and do you have hotels reserved for us all?
Sep 12th, 2010, 06:42 PM
#40
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We just went back to SF for our 5th Anniversary. Stayed at the Fairmont on Nob Hill. Great trip, great memories. We walked from the Fairmont to the GG bridge, then had to take a taxi across as we were whooped after the walk. We went to the foot of the bridge on the Suasalito side to recreate the moment, but midday, with about 200 others around was not the same mood as midnight! Nevertheless, it was fantastic to renew our love affair with the city. We went without our 2 little ones, and she actually will remember her time in SF this time (she was a bit dazed last time...).
I just thought I'd give the long-term follow-up for those who helped me back with info back in 2004.
I just thought I'd give the long-term follow-up for those who helped me back with info back in 2004.
