San Fran recommendations please!

[snowdon]

hi I'm making a short two day trip to San Fran this week. Can I get some Rad Recommendations? Done the obvious tourist stuff like the wiggly road a few years ago..

[coolant]

Alcatraz and walking across the Golden Gate Bridge are both very interesting.

[mr-smith]

I did the same thing about a year ago.

Hit Fisherman's Wharf, and walk out on the piers. There is always something to see down that direction. Gotta take a ride on one of the cable cars at some point. If you go across the golden gate bridge, and take one of the side roads shortly after crossing, you can drive up to an overlook that gives some great shots of SF through the GG.

[masherscf]

I heard that they give tours of the Revison3 offices. Ask for Chuck!

[jae]

i was there for 8 days on my honeymoon last april (and yet strangely 8 days wasn't enough. i thirst for more of it's left coasty goodness!)

i recommend:

chinatown (kind of touristy, but awesome). coit tower was a good walk from our hotel (3 miles uphill both ways in the hot sun.)

seconding the cable car. (try and get the front hand hold, that's an awesome ride.)

seconding alcatraz, it's under new management since i was there in 2000 and it's much nicer now.

the ferry terminal and embarcadero for fun people watching and great gelato.

if you need a new backpack i'd also say take the time to visit the chrome bags store. (not an employee, just <3 my chrome bag) http://chromebags.com

[snowdon]

hey thanks for the ideas, I'll definitely check out some of these. I never thought to walk across Golden Gate, I like that one particularly.

My hotel is up on a hill by Chinatown. It was a great walk this morning through chinatown and seeing people doing tai chi in the parks. Some wierd mist they have here too, it was pretty eerie first in the morning.

By the way I flew Virgin America and it really is good - the seatback screens are big and I like how it feels like a club when you first walk in.

If anyone knows a good authentic place in Chinatown I'd definitely appreciate any tips

[gglynn00]

The Apple Store...I think it would be cool to browse through one...Also, try and track down Kevin Rose and the Digg labs...oops wrong forum:) I would also like to see the Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.

[drewgray]

It depends what you interests are. I have lived here for like 3 years and there are lots of nooks and crannies. Some of my favorites are:

Getting some booze and hanging out in Dolores Park in The Mission District on a nice day, which also makes it so you can check out Valencia street with lots of good restaurants and shops, and stores of the hippier variety.

if you are into music definitely check out Amoeba up on the haight, and just generally the haight in general can be fun. Its more upscale now and not as hippie (which i am cool with because hippies annoy me).

Also in more of the area you are in, if you are into really good beer check out The San Francisco Brewing Company on Columbus at Pacific. Great food and they brew most of the beer on the premise. Get an Emperor Norton.

[talleyrand]

Steinhart Aquarium! Its closed though, just checked and even the temp location downtown is closed.
The aquarium on fishermans wharf is pretty cool though.
Take the Alcatraz tour, pretty neat.

Oh, and you can drive into the Lucasfilm complex in the Presidio, but I dont know about gaining access to the buildings.

[esophagus]

I'll be heading there come july for the Comic Con. Not sure I'll have time for anything outside of comics, but I'd love to make it out to Alcatraz.

[bcool]

you could go to the GDC!

[ariastar]

I was born locally. Drew's ideas so far are the best. I don't usually recommend the touristy thing for tourists, despite loving them myself.

What kind of things do you like? Music, art, history, drinking, shopping? Asking for recommendations just doesn't cut it without some things specific you like. SF has a bit of everything. If you can give a bit better of a starting point, we can give you ideas more tailored to your specific interests.

The Golden Gate is about four miles, so be sure to have a way back across lined up to bring you back when you want to go back.

BTW, the "wiggly street" is Lombard.

[ariastar]

hey thanks for the ideas, I'll definitely check out some of these. I never thought to walk across Golden Gate, I like that one particularly.

My hotel is up on a hill by Chinatown. It was a great walk this morning through chinatown and seeing people doing tai chi in the parks. Some wierd mist they have here too, it was pretty eerie first in the morning.

By the way I flew Virgin America and it really is good - the seatback screens are big and I like how it feels like a club when you first walk in.

If anyone knows a good authentic place in Chinatown I'd definitely appreciate any tips

The city is famous for its fog. :)

By "good authentic place" I presume you mean food-wise? Look for any doorways that lead to out-of-the-way restaurants, which may be on a second floor. The more decrepit-looking a place is, the longer it's likely to have been there. Since there is little advertising outside of Chinatown for the restaurants there, it's all word-of-mouth, so those old places that have been there for a long time have been around for as long as they have for a reason.

Great, now I want dim sum, specifically sweet steamed pork buns.

[popltree2]

Aria and I live in Cupertino which is about an hours drive from the city. We try to make trips there every once in a while for a few reasons, namely the clam chowder which I will get to in a moment.

a) You have to check out Fisherman's Wharf. A bunch of cool little shops, a carousel, and shows going on at the right time of day. One of my favorite shops of on the wharf is a little donut shop. If you happen to stop by at night, those little warm donuts are perfect.
b) While you are at the wharf, there is a clam chowder stand within a few blocks (if that). It should be a REQUIREMENT that people get clam chowder while they are in the city. And there is no other way to eat it than out of a sourdough bread bowl that is made in a factory that sits a stone's throw (almost literally) from the chowder stand. I promise you will love it.
c) I have heard the Alcatraz tour was interesting, but haven't done it myself.
d) Take another trip down Lombard St. (the twisty street). I have yet to do it, mainly because it freaks me out. But if you are up for it, do it.
e) Make sure to keep an eye out for street art/performers. These are the things that really make the city for me. By the wharf you are almost always going to find a performer. Stencil work has been popping up in the city too. Keep an eye out for it. Some really amazing stuff.
f) If you really want to see one of the most iconic districts in history, visit Haight-Ashbury. Don't be afraid of the homeless. They don't bite :)
g) Don't forget to check out the Castro! There are some colorful people there. :) (Note: The Castro is San Francisco's famous gay district.)
h) AVOID THE TENDERLOIN AT ALL COSTS.
i) If you enjoyed Full House, visit Alamo Square. You may recognize it.
j) I still have yet to take a cable car ride but, if you are willing to wait, go ahead.
k) by the wharf there is an old penny arcade. Check it out.

and now some dressing advice....
Don't make the mistake I did. Layer your clothing! When I was visiting some time ago, I came from sunny Southern California where it was warm 99/100 days. I made the mistake of thinking I could wear a light jacket to the wharf at night. WRONG! I got cold enough that Aria and I had to hop up to Old Navy on Market and get me a few sweaters, scarf, and a knit cap. Now I usually wear a t-shirt, 2 sweaters, scarf, knit cap, and my pea coat if we are going out at night. Do it. You will thank me later.

[popltree2]

I'll be heading there come july for the Comic Con. Not sure I'll have time for anything outside of comics, but I'd love to make it out to Alcatraz.

I thought Comic Con was in San Diego. We are about 8 hours north.

[ariastar]

Aria and I live in Cupertino which is about an hours drive from the city. We try to make trips there every once in a while for a few reasons, namely the clam chowder which I will get to in a moment.

a) You have to check out Fisherman's Wharf. A bunch of cool little shops, a carousel, and shows going on at the right time of day. One of my favorite shops of on the wharf is a little donut shop. If you happen to stop by at night, those little warm donuts are perfect.
b) While you are at the wharf, there is a clam chowder stand within a few blocks (if that). It should be a REQUIREMENT that people get clam chowder while they are in the city. And there is no other way to eat it than out of a sourdough bread bowl that is made in a factory that sits a stone's throw (almost literally) from the chowder stand. I promise you will love it.

Definitely. No one should be allowed to leave without chowder in a bead bowl. (Love, we're going there this weekend.) The sign says Fisherman's Grotto. Same place. Eating it outside costs less and is the PROPER way to do it, but go inside if you want some killer crab cakes.

Trish's Donuts is on Pier 39 though, right next to Fisherman's Wharf. Bottom level, to the left side. Save the bag and they'll refill for $2. They little donuts cook up fresh about every 30 seconds, and they literally go into the bags within a few seconds of coming out of the fryer. Opt for the cinnamon sugar, and eat while still hot.


c) I have heard the Alcatraz tour was interesting, but haven't done it myself.
d) Take another trip down Lombard St. (the twisty street). I have yet to do it, mainly because it freaks me out. But if you are up for it, do it.
e) Make sure to keep an eye out for street art/performers. These are the things that really make the city for me. By the wharf you are almost always going to find a performer. Stencil work has been popping up in the city too. Keep an eye out for it. Some really amazing stuff.

I also have never done Alcatraz, believe it or not. The OP's been down Lombard. And there are a plethora of street performers near Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. Including guys at night who do those spray paint things that end up on Digg every other month.


f) If you really want to see one of the most iconic districts in history, visit Haight-Ashbury. Don't be afraid of the homeless. They don't bite :)

A few years ago I was depressed one night (just out of a break-up), so drove up to the city in my BMW, sunroof open, freezing to death, as happens at night. I ended up in the Haight in the middle of the night and decided to walk around. And then spent some time hanging out with some homeless people who were in a circle on the sidewalk playing guitars and singing. Young people with dreads, like some kind of Rastafarian hippies. And they were happy and joyful. Every now and then I want to just leave everything and go join the homeless people there. In that area, most of the homeless are there by choice, to be free of The Man and obligations that come with trying to live up to societal expectations that leave out being happy as something important.


g) Don't forget to check out the Castro! There are some colorful people there. [QUOTE=popltree2;295900]:) (Note: The Castro is San Francisco's famous gay district.)

Yay, the gay district! Gay in both senses. It's a happy place, colorful and bright and I always feel all sunshiney inside thinking about it. But don't go if you want to see gay people as an attraction. The shops are cool, and the people are fab to talk to. Lots of smiles. A good place to go to end up happy.


h) AVOID THE TENDERLOIN AT ALL COSTS.

Damned good idea. Made the mistake of walking through there at night alone once. Now I can't even drive my car through there at night and feel safe. Daytime's fine. It's near Union Square and other areas, so lots of people during the day. But at night, when the homeless and druggies come out, this is where the murders happen.

Also avoid the Mission district at night. Awesomeawesomeawesome during the day, come interesting clubs at night, but don't go wandering around.


i) If you enjoyed Full House, visit Alamo Square. You may recognize it.
j) I still have yet to take a cable car ride but, if you are willing to wait, go ahead.

Ah, Full House, the show that pretends to represent the city, but only the opening and closing sequences were shot there. :) And only houses in Pacific Heights can come close to being as big as theirs was. The Tanners weren't in Pacific Heights. How they handled the earthquake in '89 was good though.

And the cable car lines can take for-fucking-ever. I've also never been on a cable car. For this reason. Don't want to freeze to death waiting.


k) by the wharf there is an old penny arcade. Check it out.

Museé Mechanique! Or however the hell it's spelled. Until fairly recently, it was an unassuming building. But now it's painted like a giant clown known as Laughing Sal. You know, that demonic thing. Take lots of quarters or small bills for the quarter machine (and take dimes - a few things take dimes and there is nowhere to get them when you're there), and find the execution. Trust me on this one. And watch the old XXX nickelodeons. Those things are too mild to even be rated G today, but were oh-so-risqué back then! Everything is original, and I mean EVERYTHING. Over a hundred years old, most of it. There IS a section in the back that's more current, some Atari arcade games, Namco, stuff like that.

Behind this are a Liberty Ship, a ship built solely by women during WWII when the men were off to war and women were needed to help on the home-front. If memory serves me right, the ships were built in an average of 63 days, and that one was built from the keel plate up in 58. Gives you a real appreciation for what the woman also did to help the war effort. Housewives to shipbuilders.

Also the Pompaneo (sp?). It's a WWII submarine. You'll see why sailors had to be toothpick-thin. My mom's boyfriend is something like 72 now, but was on that sub for over two years. Over 200 men were on it, and sleeping was in 8-hour shifts on shared bunks. George's bunk was on top of a missile!! No showers, lots of waste.... My god, gives you again new appreciation for what went on on our side.

Both are very, VERY worth the money.


and now some dressing advice....
Don't make the mistake I did. Layer your clothing! When I was visiting some time ago, I came from sunny Southern California where it was warm 99/100 days. I made the mistake of thinking I could wear a light jacket to the wharf at night. WRONG! I got cold enough that Aria and I had to hop up to Old Navy on Market and get me a few sweaters, scarf, and a knit cap. Now I usually wear a t-shirt, 2 sweaters, scarf, knit cap, and my pea coat if we are going out at night. Do it. You will thank me later.

LOL! I TOLD you, did I not? :) LAYER, LAYER, LAYER. You can tell the tourists from the locals in SF because they are the ones who dress like they're expecting it to be all warm and stuff, and the locals have jackets, scarves, and hats.

[talleyrand]

The burning question I have is do people really park in the tiny little garages? Most of the row houses in town have a garage on the bottom floor with little tiny door. I doubt I could have squeezed a Festiva in there.

[esophagus]

I thought Comic Con was in San Diego. We are about 8 hours north.Whoops. I misread. Still, the two are basically interchanagable in my head. Thus, not recognizing my alcatraz mistake.

[popltree2]

Whoops. I misread. Still, the two are basically interchanagable in my head. Thus, not recognizing my alcatraz mistake.

No, you were right about Alcatraz. Just not Comic Con.

[esophagus]

No, you were right about Alcatraz. Just not Comic Con.
Haha, no, I knew me and the con would be in San Diego. Just didn't notice (or remember) that Alcatraz and this thread were in San Francisco.