Snap Travelogue – San Francisco
Random thoughts on last week’s long weekend in San Francisco.
Day 1
TSA SUCKS – We’ve been really tolerant – verging on supportive – of the TSA. We think those front-line folks have a shitty job, so we try to be understanding. Today changed all of that. Getting through security was a mess. We got pulled for having suspicious looking coffee mugs. Um, they were empty. Time to be more vocal about the shortcomings of the TSA and the body scanning madness.
BUDDY PASSES DON’T SUCK – We’re happy to have made it to San Francisco. We relied on our airline friends’ “buddy passes” to get us here. The discounted price is great, the stand-by travel part is a bit of a drag. Our early morning flight was wide open. A row to ourselves; what a treat. Better than we normally do when paying full price.
DECENT HOTEL / QUESTIONABLE NAME – Travel-ticker had a deal at Personality Hotel’s Hotel Diva. Flying standby, we needed something that we could cancel/change last minute, so Priceline and Hotwire weren’t options. It turned out that we had stayed next door to this place a few years back. The location is ideal for visitors – not far from Union Square, metro and all that good stuff.
N2N AGAIN - As weird luck would have it, one of our favorite plays, Next to Normal, is playing across the street from our hotel. If we can get tickets, I’m sure that we’ll have to put ourselves through the emotional torture of this play.
Day 2
TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL – We decided that San Francisco gets more and more appealing every time we are here. First off, we’ve lucked out with incredible weather during our last couple of visits. This time is no exception. It’s t-shirt weather. Our big activity yesterday: a big walk down Market to Castro. Everyone looks so hip; we’ve gotta step it up.
OUR PEEPS – A few days before leaving Seattle, we saw that a new GLBT Museum had opened in San Francisco. Yesterday, we went in for a short visit before meeting a friend for coffee. Really cool place with a lot of rich information about the GLBT path. Inspiring. We hear that there are only two such museums in the world; the other is in Berlin.
STOP THE HATE – We’re sitting in The Buck getting some work done before we head out to explore. We just witnessed two fights. One was between a couple of customers. We don’t know what went down up at the register, but the two of them were screaming at each other big time. Most memorable line: “I have to deal with arrogant douche bags like you all day!” Something about using “douche” as a pejorative is especially powerful.
BACK AT THE ROOM – Today was another big walking day. Our primary goal was to really check out the South of Market neighborhoods. Our secondary goal was to find a ball cap, which always seems to be a stupid goal that is never attained because so many ball caps are douche-y (wanted to try that out). Much of SoMa seems to be just right – developed enough to be interesting, but not so developed as to be soulless.
WHY WE EXERCISE – I think we had some of the best ice cream ever (certainly the most unusual). We went to Humphry Slocombe in the Mission. Had the “breakfast” version – bourbon crunch (ok, and a couple others). This was after a tasty burrito. Nice job hosting, Lorna!
Day 3
TOO GOOD TO PASS UP – After a stiff drink, we did make it to the emotional roller-coaster Next to Normal. We scored rush tickets for $30 each. We had to pay with cash but didn’t have to bother with facility fees, etc. Lots of tweaks have been made to the show. Now that we’re practically experts, it’s interesting to see how the creative team feels they can more effectively tell the story.
FOOD NIRVANA – Out exploring again. We just had our ultimate food moment of the journey (yep – better than the ice cream). We went to a restaurant that specializes in grilled cheese sandwiches: The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen. Right up our alley. We decided to try out two, the Moscone and the Mushroom Gruyere, along with some smoked tomato soup and a couple of their house made sodas – pomegranate spice and ginger lemonade. Now we are going to look at property next door.
WIPED OUT – It’s the end of our flash weekend in San Francisco, and we’re spent. We both have blisters and feel like it’s time to call it good. We’re in the room fighting “let’s head out for one more spin around the city” urges. The feet say hell no. Time to jump on Alaska Air’s site to check the availability of standby seats tomorrow.
Day 4
FOOD FROM THE HEART – Before we pack up, I should add that we went over to the Ferry Building for their foodie event this weekend. Long story short, you purchase tickets which you then use for food and wine sample. We had a mouth-watering mushroom/bitter orange sandwich, gelato and a few other things. The place was a mob scene. Great food but panic attack level crowds.
ROOM 310 – We’ve gotta hand it to the hotel. The diva is aging nicely. The “bones’ of the building are older than my great grandma. yet they somehow manage to keep the nicks/flaws to a minimum. We were particularly pleased with the free WiFi and the Internet lounges on a few of the floors. Our room on the backside was super quiet. We’ll be back.
WE’RE SPOILED – How cool. We walk a couple blocks to the metro station and hop on for an $8.10 ride to the front of the airport. Why isn’t there more transport like this in our country? Security is OK – except for the body scan that still results in a pat down (what???) – and we’re on our way. We actually end up making it on an earlier flight. A whole row to ourselves, just like on the way down. We’ve gotten so used to WiFi up in the air, that our Internet-less plane is a big downer.
San Francisco rocks!
Where do you like to head for a long weekend get-away.
Glad you guys had such a great time in S.F. — lots to do, beautiful city. Living close to SF, I’ve got a lot of getaway weekend options that I like — north to wine country, south along Big Sur, east to Lake Tahoe! Just don’t get away often enough. Heading to Tahoe soon for skiing.
Ah, Big Sur. We want to drive the entire CA coast one day. And we’ve never been to your wine country.
It sounds like you guys had a great time. I need to get up to SF again soon. It’s the prettiest city in California for sure! (You never did tell us what was so suspicious about the coffee mugs. Were they bomb shaped or something?)
Good question, Michael! The TSA never did tell us, but they did bother to tell us it’s not a good idea to bring empty “liquid holding” items. What’s next?
And to think we were so proud that we were being all mega-green, bringing our own “liquid holding” devices.
Your San Francisco recap is taking me back. One of the best cities in America. Have you ever tried the ice cream at Bi-Rite Creamery in the Castro? Amazing! Glad you guys had a great time.
No, Marsha but it’s already on the list for next time. You know just what to say
Im so jealous, visiting San Fran has been on my list of places to visit forever. I will make it there one day and with a flower in my hair (get it?). Sounds like y’all had an awesome time. I didn’t know a GLBT museum existed and now that I know Berlin has one I will visit while I am there.
Yes, definitely check out the GLBT museum in SF too. It’s a cool, compact place with very interesting exhibits. Not overwhelming at all.
Hehe, the memorable line is pretty funny, I can’t say I’ve heard that phrase since I left the US!
EVERYTHING about the following word combination appeals to me: American Grilled Cheese Kitchen.
I’ve been to SF a couple of times and it’s a favourite of mine – I’m really surprised you get t-shirt weather there in February!
There’s a restaurant on the ground floor of Francis Ford Coppola’s office building that I really like.
I know, we lucked out with the weather.
Loved the format of this post! I always miss living in San Francisco…such an absolutely amazing place. I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad time there whether visiting or when I lived there. Glad you guys had a blast!
I’ve never been, but SF is high up on my list for the great US tour next year.. It’s so nice to read how the two of you enjoy your travels together, Do you never argue?
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Yes! It should be high on your list. West Coast!
Hmmm.. we should write a post on our arguments.
I loved living in SF for three months despite being broke. Such good food, wine and weather (I love cool evenings). It is such a sweater town
I love, love, love SF for a long weekend. It’s such a “user-friendly” city and I find myself wishing LA was more like SF every time I go.
Ah… we know you love SF – we’ve read the blog posts and seen the pictures
They are partially responsible for our going there this time.
Reading this post makes me want to run right down to SF for a long weekend! It’s been years since I’ve really spent any time there.
And it’s SO easy from Seattle.
Now I really want to go visit San Francisco again! You guys did so much; I like the “snap travelogue” roundup. Cracking up at the “aging” Diva!
The Grilled Cheese Kitchen??!!!
Pretty please promise me you will show photos. My second love, next to pork, is delicious cheese.
First you talk about pisco sours and now cheese. Are you coming on to us? It’s working
By the way, we have a great pisco sour recipe.
SF does indeed rock! I would totally move here if it wasn’t so expensive!
What a nice weekend! There was a little bit of everything. Good food, museum, fights, N2N (btw, they recently closed in NY and I missed it
), and everything in between. Loved the way you guys did the post with random thoughts.
At least you’ve actually heard of N2N. Our favorite NYC activity was dinner at 5 Napkin followed by N2N followed by drinks. Wish we would have known you then.
Mmmm…Humphrey Slocombe. Seriously the best ice cream ever! Double good job to Lorna, haha. You will have to try Bi-Rite and Mitchell’s next time…oh, and Three Twins too! But, Slocombe is still number one for me.
Ok, that’s two votes for Bi-Rite. We’re on it! Thanks for all your tips!
Looks like a great time, especially the ice cream and grilled cheese!!
Unfortunately we have never made it to SF, but we are getting all kinds of great tips for when we inevitably make it there.
Get in touch before you go, Adam!
I really like using the word douche. It’s a good word.
I can’t let Scott read this post because he has never been able to explore San Francisco and every time he mentions going there, I always tell him it’s not my favorite city. I must be missing what everybody loves about it. Maybe I take it for granted because I grew up so close to the city and visited often. Your post makes me want to go back though.
I do love the “Stinking Rose” restaurant. If you make it back to San Fran, I highly recommend it. It’s garlic galore! For some reason I also have fond memories of visiting Alcatraz Island on school trips. I have a thing for old prisons. Weird, I know.
Been to the Stinking Rose and smelled like garlic for a week. Great for the self esteem.
We will not allow you to continue this lie with Scott. You have until March 1st to tell him the truth or we’ll do it for you.
Something about that word ‘douche’ for Americans. Use it here and they think I’m conferring a mispronmounced knighthood.
When do we get to see the body scan pics online?
Ooooh, you’re making me miss SF! My partner and I lived in the Tenderloin for a year (that was interesting) and I completely fell in love with the city (ok, the food… I fell in love with all the food).
San Francisco is really the only place we can see ourselves living permanently whenever we decide we’re done roaming around in an RV.
Must hear about your year in the Tenderloin at some point.
SF is one of my favorite cities…especially on a clear day when you can see the golden bridge! Oh and I agree TSA SUCKS!!
man – a place dedicated to only grilled cheese sandwiches ! i have to put that on my bucket list !
I love how you did this post! It is chock full of events, but delivered with highlights, short and sweet, just like your trip! Being from Illinois, I like to take my family to Colombia, MO. There are water parks, to-die-for restaurants, affordable lodging, and a drive through zoo which is my favorite. We are also very close to STL, which I know many people visit on vacations, but for me it’s over done, so we will travel a little farther. Besides the blisters and swollen feet, it sounds like you guys had a blast! Thanks for sharing!
You boys need an XShot monopod to take photos of yourselves IMHO.
And we respect YHO greatly.
As always, guys, great article. I love SF; it’s one of my favorite US cities. And I love the use of the term “douche bag” in a serious conversation!
Looks like you guys had a terrific time in SF. I need to visit SF too! Love the foodie adventure you guys had. Food always my top priority. haha
Love this post! San Francisco is one of my favorite cities in the world. I actually have a job offer there at the moment and if my work visa could be arranged, I’ll be living there. Crazy and exciting! Though with the current economic issues in the US, I’m not holding my breath for the visa. Still, fingers crossed.
Wow, Amy – not a bad city to land!
Like Cathy, I am just right down the road from SF. Been there more times than I can count. However, I don’t do the touristy stuff that much so it was great to read about it from your perspective. And yes, you should do the coast, wine country, and Tahoe.
LOVED having you guys here- too much fun! sounds like the rest of your time was awesome too! SF has even more up it’s sleeve that I think you’ll love, you haven’t even made it to my beloved oakland! come back soon dearies