It's Official

My first night in my new place! I'm so excited to get settled and get CITYFIED! Thank you to all who helped me with the big move...wow, isn't moving a pain? The reward of course is a fresh start. I threw out all the old junk probably more then I should have according to my wise old Dad. As the minute I got here I figured out, "Wow, it would have been nice to have that shoe rack right now." Lesson learned.

So a recap of my first official night as a San Franciscan. With a little help from Sis we schlepped my stuff up the two flights of stairs and settled in by popping a bottle of bubbly. Then we headed to the deli up the street for a bit of take-out. Right off the bat, the deli is my new favorite hang! The best part - single sized servings. In the 'burbs everything is VALUE SIZE this and FAMILY SIZE that which makes for a lot of waste when it comes to the single girl. In the City - the cheese, the crackers, the champagne, everything in nice single sized servings. Its like the City is saying, "Go ahead have a couple glasses of wine, you deserve it!" Don't mind if I do San Francisco, don't mind it I do!

Tomorrow is my first day of City bus commuting experience, which reminds me...I better figure out where to catch that bus! This should be interesting.

Pacific Heights Priss

According to Urban Bay Properties, “Pacific Heights (my new neighborhood) is one of the most desirable and exclusive neighborhoods in San Francisco.” To put it simply, it is where the rich people live. Do you remember the movie Mrs. Doubtfire with Robin Williams? I was lucky enough to catch this little gem of early 90’s high-waisted pants and station wagons on TV only months ago and if you have a couple hours on a rainy Sunday I would highly recommend you reconnect with it. It just brings a warm fuzzy feeling. But, I digress…so, the fancy house that Sally Field lived in? That’s in Pacific Heights, actually right up the street from my new abode. Albeit my accommodations are no where near as fancy. One more sprinkle of color, (as if you needed it) famed smut author Danielle Steele will practically be my new neighbor! This is exciting stuff.

I was doing a little background research on my new neighborhood and I came across the most interesting little tidbit regarding the origin of Pacific Heights courtesy of the SF Chronicle, “The extravagant dwellings that characterize the district today stand as testimony to the desire of those early residents to impress their Nob Hill neighbors.” How great is that?! They built their houses just to show the neighboring district how much better they were! It’s like the Real Housewives of San Francisco circa 1800.

So why, do you ask, would lowly, in-debt, me pick this neighborhood? It’s safe, it’s pretty and its main drag, Fillmore Street, is overflowing with trendy boutiques, coffee shops, hip bars and restaurants. What more could a girl ask for? Pacific Heights is the ‘Burbs of the City, but so much better. It is my kicking off point for City living. Because, let’s face it, a girl from the ‘Burbs can’t just jump right into bums peeing on my doorstep, and graffiti covering the Betsy Johnson storefront. I have to work up to that.

Moving On Up...

My name is Alison, I'm 32, single and I live in the 'Burbs. For years my friends in San Francisco have been urging me to grab the bull by the horns and take the plunge. I've always had an excuse. A month ago after break up number 29(?!?) with the same old Mr. Wrong the excuses ran out. So here I am teetering on the edge of my destiny and I decided to start a blog to keep track of my Big City exploits (but mainly to entertain my Sisters).

A suburbanite girl moves to the Big Bad City. Yeah, like you haven't heard that before right - how cliche? I think I could name off sixteen movies with that premise! So what makes this blog any different? Well me. Unlike Carrie Bradshaw, I'm just a normal girl. I grew up in a normal town, had normal friends, went to a normal college. Which kind of makes me, well...I guess, just like you.

My promise to you dear reader is to give it to you straight and not sugar coat or romanticize City living. If the bus ride home stinks of pigs feet you best believe I will let you know. As I get to know San Francisco, so will you. The good, the bad and the "damn that guy has two shopping carts worth of bum brick-er-brack, how does he make it up all these hills?!!"

Move in date is February 1 - so get ready to get CITYFIED friends. You and I are in for a great new adventure!