Topic: Help, first time to SF Bay Area (Read 3545 times)

Sphinxvc · « **Reply #20 on:** March 09, 2013, 07:29:34 PM »

Nice, thanks Zero. Muir woods sounds like what I'm doing on Sunday morning.

rhythmdevils · « **Reply #21 on:** March 09, 2013, 08:42:34 PM »

Skip the burger and get burritos in SF when you're in the mission. If you're from the east coast you may have never had a good burrito.

My favorites

Taqueria San Jose
Papalote (veggie burrito)
El Metate (prob my favorite, really good veggie burrito)

rroseperry · « **Reply #22 on:** March 10, 2013, 02:18:08 AM »

If you must have a burger, try to find out where the Five-Ten truck is going to be during your visit. They usually post their locations on FB. https://www.facebook.com/fivetenburger?ref=ts&fref=ts

The food truck scene is worth checking out, though the off the grid weekly arrangements are often mobbed = no fun at all.

Questhate · « **Reply #23 on:** March 11, 2013, 04:33:44 AM »

+3 on the Muir Woods recommendation if you want to see some redwoods. I'd say you should go early because the parking lot fills up and you may be forced to park in the remote lot and shuttle in (which takes a great deal more time). Also, if you're looking for some good burgers, try hitting up Pearl's in Mill Valley on the way back afterward: http://www.pearlsdeluxe.com/

Regarding Burgers: Yes, if you haven't had In 'n Out, definitely try it when you're here. It won't be the best burger you've ever had, but it's fast food burgers done right. I have a co-worker in our Boston office that visits once per quarter. He always makes me drop by In 'n Out on the way back from the airport. The thing is, In 'n Out's are all over the place in California, so I'd eat at one in San Jose during your work week and free yourself up to try other places on your SF weekend.

Burgers have been really popular in the SF in the past couple of years, with tons of fancy fufu ~$15 ooptions all over town (my favorites are from Wayfare Tavern, NOPA and Citizen's Band). My favorite basic burger in SF though is Super Duper (http://www.superdupersf.com), which has a couple of locations in the city (just realized they opened up a location in Mill Valley, so you can hit it on your way back from Muir Woods too). Also, if you end up catching the farmer's market at the Ferry Building, 4045 Meats should have a booth there -- and they make a mean burger as well.

I agree with RD's suggestion of getting a burrito. I take for granted that they're not very popular in other regions, but they're a staple in California. My personal favorite in the Mission is Taqueria Cancun, or if you want something late night then El Farolito. Also, if you're in the Mission anyway, the best ice cream in SF is in this district -- a couple of artisan places, Humphry Slocombe (http://www.humphryslocombe.com/Home.html) and Bi-Rite (http://biritecreamery.com/), as well as an older SF staple nearby, Mitchell's (http://www.mitchellsicecream.com/).

Regarding Banh Mi's (Vietnamese sandwiches), the best in town is by far Saigon Sandwiches: http://www.yelp.com/biz/saigon-sandwich-san-francisco. If you come by and see the line out of the door, don't fret -- just come back in 15 minutes. The line seems to build up at random times and die down. Also, keep in mind that they take cash-only (typical sandwich is like $3 - $4). This shop is actually a couple of blocks from Civic Center, so you can walk nearby and check out City Hall and stuff.

Pork buns -- the ones that I get are out in the Sunset district, but there's nothing to see out there. I wouldn't venture all the way out there just for pork buns. I'm sure you'll find pork buns just as good in Chinatown. If you are in Chinatown, definitely stop by Golden Gate Bakery for some egg custards. They are the best in town (but there may be a bit of a line): http://www.yelp.com/biz/golden-gate-bakery-san-francisco.

Aquarius Records is awesome, and is definitely worth the trip to the Mission. The biggest record store in town is Amoeba Records on Haight Street (if you end up going to the Haight-Ashbury district), which is worth checking out as well.

I got inspired from typing about the bike ride earlier this week, and ended up doing the same ride today that I suggested. It really is one of my favorite ways to spend a nice sunny day in SF. My friend had to rent a bike, so we started at Sports Basement. Here is the exact route that we took: http://goo.gl/maps/QTJvh. Stopped by the Ferry Building to get oysters are Hogg Island and French Macaroons at Miette, then stopped by a Farmer's Market going on at Fort Mason, and various stops along Crissy Field to have a beer.

Gotta run for now, but will add more tomorrow if I can.

Questhate · « **Reply #24 on:** March 11, 2013, 06:21:10 AM »

As far as music goes -- were you more interested in seeing some of the better venues, or did you have particular genres in mind?

The more noteworthy venues in SF includes Davies Symphony Hall, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium and the Fillmore (because so many great bands have passed through there). Davies Symphony Hall (http://www.sfsymphony.org/) has MTT doing Mahler's 9th, Bill Graham doesn't have anything until April and The Fillmore (http://www.livenation.com/venues/14270/the-fillmore) only has shows on Friday and Saturday next weekend. The Fillmore venue isn't necessarily that special, but it has decent sound and you can see all the pictures and posters of all the great bands that have played there.

Slims and Great American Music Hall (one website for both venues: http://www.slimspresents.com/calendar/) are also pretty good small-medium music venues. The Warfield (http://thewarfieldtheatre.com/events.php) is probably the biggest (behind Davies Symphony Hall and Bill Graham) venue, although it borders the Tenderloin which is a tad sketchy at night. The Independent (http://www.theindependentsf.com/) is a nice small one, and is one of my favorites.

Bottom of the Hill (http://www.bottomofthehill.com/calendar.html#sthash.zyhblwtC.dpbs) and Rickshaw Stop (http://www.rickshawstop.com/calendar/) are both tiny venues that feature mainly unknown indie bands. The sound is terrible at Bottom of the Hill, but it has a nice neighborhood vibe. Another very small venue is a brand new one that just opened up a few months ago in the Mission that's had some interesting bands come through so far called The Chapel (http://www.ticketfly.com/venue/5519). I actually like that spot a lot.

If you're into electronic music, 1015 Folsom (http://www.1015.com/), Mighty (http://www.mighty119.com/) and The Mezzanine (http://www.mezzaninesf.com/calendar.asp) -- the latter two having hip-hop acts occasionally. The crowd SUCKS at 1015, and the sound system is horrific at Mighty so I'd avoid those two unless you really like whoever is playing. The Mezzanine is kinda decent, but set up more like a nightclub than a music venue and attracts some weird crowds as well.

Masonic Auditorium (http://www.masonicauditorium.com/) has some awesome jazz shows sometimes, but I don't think anything is going on next weekend. The Regency Ballroom (http://www.theregencyballroom.com/events.php) has shows as well, but it's a terrible venue that I'd avoid unless you really want to see someone playing there.

My th ree absolute favorite places to see live music though aren't even in SF, but across the Bay Bridge in the East Bay. My top is the Greek Theater in Berkeley, which is an outdoor auditorium, but the concert season hasn't started for them yet. The second is the Fox Theater in Oakland (http://www.thefoxoakland.com/), which is right in Uptown and one of the areas in Oakland that's going through a renaissance (that rrosperry mentioned earlier). And lastly is Yoshi's in Oakland's Jack London Square (http://www.yoshis.com/oakland/calendar), where all the big jazz names comes through. There is a newer Yoshi's in SF, but after the first few months, they featured more classic R&B and adult contemporary acts (zzzzzz) -- but Oakland is the original.

Anyway, trying not to overwhelm you, but I think I covered most of the venues. I included the sites so you could check out the calendars to see if any of the bands looked interesting.

Ringingears · « **Reply #25 on:** March 11, 2013, 07:16:39 AM »

Did you guys mention a walk out on to the GG Bridge? Great if no fog.

OK- fellow old guys, what do you think? Besides taking an afternoon nap in Goldern Gate Park.

Sphinxvc · « **Reply #26 on:** March 15, 2013, 09:48:06 PM »

Quest - another inundated week at work. Haven't had a chance to check back till now. I'm on the plane to SJC as I write this. Got booked up @ a Nob Hill hotel in SF so hopefully will be right in the middle of it. (?) Rough plan is to do the bike ride thing Saturday AM, come back and hang around the Mission, etc. I'll unfortunately have to (dramatic pause) *choose* between all these food options.
Tragic, I know.

Hopefully I'll have done some research on what's playing Saturday night music-wise by then, and hopefully will be able to get into something. If not, won't force it.

Then the plan is to do as you said and leave SF really early AM on Sunday morning to go to the Muir woods. I really want to see those Red Woods. Monday I'll be back in my Santa Clara/Silicon Valley hotel so I'll find the nearest In & Out that day and give it a try.

Will report back.

rhythmdevils · « **Reply #27 on:** March 16, 2013, 04:16:08 AM »

And the burrito? WHAT ABOUT THE BURRRITO?

Sphinxvc · « **Reply #28 on:** March 22, 2013, 05:41:33 PM »

Started off my day heading to Presidio and Crissy field where I rented a road bike. Rode it to Fisherman's wharf & G-square (good fun) and had some fish & chips -- heading back to Golden Gate was a bitch, headwind was just too strong so I returned the bike and hopped in my car. The GG area was too packed though so I left.

Headed to the mission next and got a a really good, but really big burrito @ Taqueria Cancun. It was the size of a new-born swaddled in a tortilla. Floating in 2 inches of cheese/sauce. Really good, I'd never had a real burrito until then I realized. Observed that parking is a real bitch/expensive/pretentious is San Fran.

Then walked around Polk street for a while. Ended with a few beers at some bar (most of the bars were brimming and full) & @ night I had some Thai food at a Tenderloin restaurant. I really wanted to get to Chinatown for some proper Chinese but I was tired and had an early morning trip planned to Muir woods.

Sphinxvc · « **Reply #29 on:** March 23, 2013, 05:21:03 PM »

Day 2 I drove out to Muir woods early in the morning, walked through, then went to Green Gulch Zen Farm/Community and listened to a lecture given by a monk from Japan. Then came back to SF to do a sensory deprivation float - floating in a one-person light-proof/sound-proof tank in 98.6 degree water (that has large quantities of epsom salt dissolved in it). Then had Viet sandwiches @ the place Quest recommended, ice-cream @ another place Q recommended and drove back down to San Jose. I tried In & Out too on Friday night, not too good, not any better than 5 guys.

Author Topic: Help, first time to SF Bay Area (Read 3545 times)

Sphinxvc

Re: Help, first time to SF Bay Area

rhythmdevils

Re: Help, first time to SF Bay Area

rroseperry

Re: Help, first time to SF Bay Area

Questhate

Re: Help, first time to SF Bay Area

Questhate

Re: Help, first time to SF Bay Area

Ringingears

Re: Help, first time to SF Bay Area

Sphinxvc

Re: Help, first time to SF Bay Area

rhythmdevils

Re: Help, first time to SF Bay Area

Sphinxvc

Re: Help, first time to SF Bay Area

Sphinxvc

Re: Help, first time to SF Bay Area

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Author Topic: Help, first time to SF Bay Area (Read 3545 times)

rroseperry