San Francisco

[br00ke]

i'll be in SF next week .. i've been once but was really just breezing through town. what are some must eat / do sort of things from locals (or anyone!)?  :)

[Hawkeye]

I was there back in '02.  Not going to be LOTS of help here, but I remember seeing Alcatraz from the top of some parking ramp or something.  Went to the Ghiradelli chocolate place, drove through Golden Gate Park and across the bridge, some bands were playing in this square by one of the cable car stations, walked up a street with lots of street performers/artists, had some excellent chilli in a sourdough bread bowl, and rode the cable cars!  That was the highlight for me I think.  Only got about half a day there...

[Tracy 2112]

the locals and frequent visitors can give you the local scoop, but get to Muir Woods (about 15 miles north of SF) and see the redwoods. You have to see the redwoods!

[vespachick]

Eat burritos in the Mission District; eat dim sum in China Town; eat a clam & garlic pizza at North Shore Pizza (geez, is that even still open?); see a show at the Fillmore; go to the Museum Mechanique (awesome) and the Sutro Baths (also, awesome)...oh so many things to do.  I also (still) like the happy hour at the Fairmount Hotel, what's the name of that bar i there... It rains in the lagoon there.  Or at least it used to. Some Hawaiian themed thing.

Walk a lot, it's a small place.  Have a great time.  Who doens't love SF???

8)

[Penny Lane]

i'll be in SF next week .. i've been once but was really just breezing through town. what are some must eat / do sort of things from locals (or anyone!)?  :)

i've been a few times but i've  never taken the alcatraz tour (at night)...it's seasonal so hopefully they're in season again.

[TheBigChicken]

the locals and frequent visitors can give you the local scoop, but get to Muir Woods (about 15 miles north of SF) and see the redwoods. You have to see the redwoods!

what he just said....for real...it's mind blowing... :o

[woodnymph]

PIER 39 SEA LION RESIDENCE!!!   :o :o



Is that a weird suggestion??   ;D

[Tracy 2112]

 If you like pancakes!   
http://www.searsfinefood.com/


We stayed next door on our honeymoon. And it's on Powell, the cable cars run right in front of it (near Union Square)

[tdb810]

I went in 1998 and did all of the touristy things, and loved every minute of it.  here were my highlights, not in any particular order:

muir woods

tour of alcatraz with the little audio tour thingy

cable cars (kodak moment)

ghirardelli square in the evening

harvey's in the castro for brunch http://www.harveyssf.com/Eat-brunch.html   (named in memory of harvey milk)

bus tour of napa (we visited three wineries and woooooo hoooo was that fun)

bus trip to carmel/monterey (we had a week, and this was a perfect way for me to split off from the group for a day to myself, and this was magical. technically not SF, but in the region. BONUS: you get to drive down through the 17 mile drive from Pacific Grove to Pebble Beach, Lone Cypress Tree etc) BREATHTAKING. Do this if you can.

sea lions

haight Ashbury to check out the shops

Visit to Berkely campus (we had a friend there so we toured the campus and had a lunch)

if you have a car, drive lombard street

if you have a flat stanley, don't lose it on the golden gate bridge :)


bring your sneakers...the hills are no joke! have a wonderful trip! 

[br00ke]

thanks guys & gals ... i won't have a car except for a going down to big sur for a cabin stay (with friends who are heading out from south bay area) but i do have a a friend's corpo. code for 50% off a car rental, things to consider!!

on my list thus far:

- big sur stay
- lunch @ chez panisse / checking out berkley
- in-n-out burger!!!
- eats @ the ferry building
- the haight of course and generally just walking all over creation (to warrent all that yummy eating!)
- i have a friend that is a wine-maker in sonoma .. i want to go up there and stay but not sure if that will work out. the same person also works part time at lagunitas so it'd be great to do both
- tacos .. chinese .. indian .. nom nom!

i'll be out there monday - sunday .. the friend i'm staying with works monday - wednesday so i'll be sorta trolling the city on my own during the day .. which i'm sorta stoked about.

[Penny Lane]

don't forget amoeba records!

[BH]

Danz!

[bluesky]

Hey Brooke
I will see you before you go but incase I forget:

just walk around a lot...always the best
defo on the museum de macanic..one of the only touristy things I would definiltey do, I think I had mentioned it to you before
drink lots of coffee and if you make it to Outer Sunset make sure to stop at Trouble Coffee for cinnamon toast and some coffee that's like cocaine (also a walk to the Pacific!!!)

I'm psyched that you are going to Big Sur, it's on my list!!!!  :D

[kydiddle]

Oh my god In-N-Out Burger. Had one in LA and either I was really hungry or it was THAT good. Nom! (Can we get a drooling emoticon?)

Have a great time, Brooke!

[Tracy 2112]

thanks guys & gals ... i won't have a car except for a going down to big sur for a cabin stay (with friends who are heading out from south bay area) but i do have a a friend's corpo. code for 50% off a car rental, things to consider!!

on my list thus far:

- big sur stay
- lunch @ chez panisse / checking out berkley
- in-n-out burger!!!
- eats @ the ferry building
- the haight of course and generally just walking all over creation (to warrent all that yummy eating!)
- i have a friend that is a wine-maker in sonoma .. i want to go up there and stay but not sure if that will work out. the same person also works part time at lagunitas so it'd be great to do both
- tacos .. chinese .. indian .. nom nom!

i'll be out there monday - sunday .. the friend i'm staying with works monday - wednesday so i'll be sorta trolling the city on my own during the day .. which i'm sorta stoked about.

Big Sur has redwoods!

And check out Monterey and Carmel-by-the-sea (if you want to feel rich!). They're both on the way, sort of the "last stop" on Hwy. 1 before the Pacific opens up to your right (or west)

[Penny Lane]

Oh my god In-N-Out Burger. Had one in LA and either I was really hungry or it was THAT good. Nom! (Can we get a drooling emoticon?)

Have a great time, Brooke!

how would you compare In & Out to Five Guys?
I had my first Five Guys burger this year and it ALMOST compared...

[Penny Lane]

Danz!

and his fancy hair! 

[danz]

You rang?  Unfortunately, I am out of town until the 31st but I'm sure I can be of some assistance even remotely ;)

So far pretty much everything you guys have said is true.

Off the top of my head, here are my favorite cheap eats:
El Matate
Papa Lote
Yamo
Henry's Hunan
Paguloc
Genki
Burma Superstar
Manora's

There is also so really great coffee, tons of music venues, a handful of breweries and a plethora of unique parks I can tell you about.

Brooke, what else you lookin' to do?  You can pm me or post -  sorry my phone is off as I'm out of the country.

[kydiddle]

Oh my god In-N-Out Burger. Had one in LA and either I was really hungry or it was THAT good. Nom! (Can we get a drooling emoticon?)

Have a great time, Brooke!

how would you compare In & Out to Five Guys?
I had my first Five Guys burger this year and it ALMOST compared...

Oooooh, tough question I love Five Guys, too. Different, but equal in their awesomeness.  :P

[walterfredo]

Muir Woods is great but can sometimes be a zoo. Definitely visit Big Sur if you can swing it. Great call on chez panisse. I'd highly recommend The Cheeseboard Collective in Berkeley. Also in the east bay...pizzaiolo or boot and shoe service.  If you like beer definitely go check out The Toronado on Haight St. (great sausages next door too) or The Trappist in Oakland.

Let me know if you have any specific questions.