San Francisco Trip

[Suspect Chin]

I'm heading to San Francisco in a couple weeks for a Dylan/Willie Nelson/Mellencamp show. The show is actually in Stockton, CA but we are spending a few nights beforehand in downtown SF and a few afterwards in Oakland. You guys were great when I asked for Minneapolis tips so what do you have for me this time?

We are definitely going to Golden Gate Bridge and Haight and Ashbury but fill me in on some of the more local spots, particularly some of the best local food and drink.

Chuuuch.

[jennysmurf]

I'm heading to San Francisco in a couple weeks for a Dylan/Willie Nelson/Mellencamp show. The show is actually in Stockton, CA but we are spending a few nights beforehand in downtown SF and a few afterwards in Oakland. You guys were great when I asked for Minneapolis tips so what do you have for me this time?

We are definitely going to Golden Gate Bridge and Haight and Ashbury but fill me in on some of the more local spots, particularly some of the best local food and drink.

Chuuuch.

Okay, I'm on it! I've only been here (San Francisco) a year, but I'll do what I can. What do you guys like to do? Tourist stuff? Hiking?

[Suspect Chin]

Okay, I'm on it! I've only been here (San Francisco) a year, but I'll do what I can. What do you guys like to do? Tourist stuff? Hiking?

She loves outdoors stuff so we are going to head to Yosemite one of the days. I don't really want to do the hacky stuff, I just want to chill out, drink and enjoy the local places Ron Bennington style.

[jennysmurf]

She loves outdoors stuff so we are going to head to Yosemite one of the days. I don't really want to do the hacky stuff, I just want to chill out, drink and enjoy the local places Ron Bennington style.

Alright. There's a great hike from Ocean Beach to Land's End right in San Francisco. It has some great views of the ocean and Golden Gate Bridge. As for local stuff, I'll ask aroiund and get some recommendations for you.

[Suspect Chin]

Alright. There's a great hike from Ocean Beach to Land's End right in San Francisco. It has some great views of the ocean and Golden Gate Bridge. As for local stuff, I'll ask aroiund and get some recommendations for you.

You're the best. Thank you.

[Stankfoot]

city lights book store (http://www.citylights.com/info/?fa=aboutus)

[jennysmurf]

I emailed a friend last night, and this is what she sent me:

Indian Food: Shalimar on Polk and Pine street, a lot of bars and other restaurants around there too.
"American" food + Beer: Monk's Kettle in the mission, http://www.monkskettle.com/ It's in the mission 3141 16th St
http://www.monkskettle.com/images/menu.pdf
Italian Food: Via Veneto 2244 Fillmore St, this is in Pac Heights. (between Clay St & Sacramento St)
I love Via Veneto! it was one of the first restaurants i went to when i first visited san francisco.


And I have to second stankfoot's recommendation of the City Lights bookstore. It's right off of the main drag there at Chinatown, so you could see both at the same time.

[Dude!]

aw man
in san fran
you gotta checkout a bathhouse or 2

[Furtherman]

aw man
in san fran
you gotta checkout a bathhouse or 2

Oh wow, did you just make a San Francisco = Gay joke?

Your accomplishments are outstanding.

[Marc with a c]

don't stick your finger in any peanut butter. they seem to HATE that out there.

[Snoogans]

don't stick your finger in any peanut butter. they seem to HATE that out there.

http://www.stampedebeer.com/weblog/uploaded_images/puck-764091.jpg

[Chigworthy]

Don't go to Oakland, it is the Bay Area's anus. So is Richmond. It has two anuses.

The Marin Headlands (Part of Golden Gate Recreation Area National Park) is cool for a drive. It's literally just north of the Golden Gate, as the northern end of the bridge is in the National Park. There are some pretty cool old military installations from wars past and various places to have a picnic.

In my opinion, the culinary treasure of the North Bay is Hog Island Oyster Company in Marshall, which is a fairly remote fishing village on Tomales Bay, about 1.5 hours of a beautiful coastal drive north of SF. Call first before you go, as they are sometimes closed. Bring a cooler with some beer or white wine and a lemon or two. They have a picnic area right on the bay (I think it cost's 5-10 dollars a head just to use the area) where you can watch the workers harvesting and processing the various bivalves they farm, as well as see the occasional elephant seal out in the water. My favorite oyster that they farm is the Kumamoto, which is a great oyster for beginners as it is tiny, but I find it to have the cleanest flavor of any oysters I have had. They sell clams there too, which are great on the half shell as well. If you don't know shucking, they can show you how. Hog Island harvests the oysters from their beds out on the bay, and "wash" them in holding tanks for 24 hours before selling them, which results in super-clean bivalves. Keep in mind that the place is rustic, usually cool and breezy, and fairly expensive, but you will be tasting some of the best oysters in the world. I think they have a restaurant in the Larkspur ferry terminal, which is a short ferry ride from SF.

Haight Ashbury is kind of cool, but don't get your hopes up. It has it's historical cafes and shops, but for the most part you are just fending off panhandlers and window shopping for "Hot Topic" type shit like big leather boots with all kinds of buckles hanging off of 'em. At the very west end of the area is Amoeba Records, which is a small chain, but feels like the world's biggest independent record store. Lot's of imports, out of print, and experimental shit you've never heard of.

The North Beach section of SF is kind of nice to walk around in. There are plenty of decent little Italian joints along the streets there. Also Coit Tower is a short walk up a steep hill.

[jennysmurf]

Chig's right about Oakland and Haight-Ashbury. But everyone needs to go to the Haight just to say they've been. My friend sent me another link to a place she likes. The Hays Valley (where this place is) is a cool, laid back part of the city:

also, Absinthe in hayes valley is nice. 398 Hayes Street http://www.absinthe.com/