San Francisco is really "Frisco" after all?
Mar 25th, 2009, 02:47 PM
#1
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San Francisco is really "Frisco" after all?
Zagat's Guides -- whom I thought should know better -- has a headline "The Washbag returns to Frisco". Are all the natives going berserk?
http://www.zagat.com/blog/EntryList....zid=mar09week4
http://www.zagat.com/blog/EntryList....zid=mar09week4
Mar 26th, 2009, 10:57 AM
#15
I should have added: I was never a Herb Caen fan. That whole "Mr. San Francisco" was a bit of a farce, in light of the fact that he was admittedly a Sacramento kid. I guess it worked for tourism, though.
Mar 26th, 2009, 11:12 AM
#16
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"I've lived here all my life, and nobody I know calls it the Washbag. Except for a few newspaper columnists."
That seems odd. We were sent there years ago by my partner's niece, a long time stock broker in SF who ate there a lot and always called it that. She said it was partly because of the sign which simply said "WBSG". She said the locals all called it the Washbag as it was shorter than the full name. And I can tell you who DID call it The Washbag -- the host, who answered the phone for reservations with "Washbag", which really surprised me the first time I called. I can't imagine locals spitting out "let's meet for lunch at The Washington Square Bar and Grill" instead of "Let's have lunch at the Washbag".
And look at this link of dozens of posts from Chowhound -- a website mainly of local foodies (not newspaper writers). Nearly everyone called it Washbag!
http://tinyurl.com/dcuy8m
That seems odd. We were sent there years ago by my partner's niece, a long time stock broker in SF who ate there a lot and always called it that. She said it was partly because of the sign which simply said "WBSG". She said the locals all called it the Washbag as it was shorter than the full name. And I can tell you who DID call it The Washbag -- the host, who answered the phone for reservations with "Washbag", which really surprised me the first time I called. I can't imagine locals spitting out "let's meet for lunch at The Washington Square Bar and Grill" instead of "Let's have lunch at the Washbag".
And look at this link of dozens of posts from Chowhound -- a website mainly of local foodies (not newspaper writers). Nearly everyone called it Washbag!
http://tinyurl.com/dcuy8m
Mar 26th, 2009, 11:38 AM
#18
Born/raised/still live in N. Calif. - and it was always the Washbag to everyone I know.
Herb did call himself the Sacramento Kid -- but that was sort of self-deprecating since he never lived here after moving to San Francisco. (sort of like Bill calling himself the "Man from Hope" ).
He was a San Franciscan through and through (w/ "down home" Sacramento roots)
Herb did call himself the Sacramento Kid -- but that was sort of self-deprecating since he never lived here after moving to San Francisco. (sort of like Bill calling himself the "Man from Hope" ).
He was a San Franciscan through and through (w/ "down home" Sacramento roots)
Mar 26th, 2009, 12:13 PM
#19
Well, I am clearly in a minority, then, and happily so on this one...As I said, I know nobody who calls is the Washbag.
Re: Herb Caen...my opinion remains: he was a phony. A social-climber & a sycophant, who had a desperate need to be Somebody. He had a way with words, I'll give him that...just not my style.
Re: Herb Caen...my opinion remains: he was a phony. A social-climber & a sycophant, who had a desperate need to be Somebody. He had a way with words, I'll give him that...just not my style.
