Holy Hangover Batman, courtesy of Lion Pub aka The Lions Den, my new favorite dive bar within a four block radius of my house. I fell in love with the place the minute I walked in the door. Cocktails made with fresh squeezed juice, a cheese and cracker bar they replenish throughout the night. Who could ask for more? I went here Wednesday night and it made for a pretty rough Thursday hence the lack of post yesterday.
This 3-Day weekend is chocked full of excitement. Tomorrow I'm viewing the Cartier Exhibit at the Legion of Honor followed by a birthday dinner with my Sisters at Dosa and a night out on the Town with friends on Sunday in celebration of "Single Awareness Day" aka Valentine's Day.
The best part of my weekend is starting in about 10 minutes with a HH after work. Big ups to Alli for planning it for me as a welcome to the big Cit-AY. Happy Hour at Harrington's + Harry's. Harry's is within stumbling distance to home! Can't wait. As we speak I'm doing some stretches and stocking up on Advil getting ready for a big weekend of FUN! Get your game faces on folks it is going to be a wild one. I promise a full weekend re-cap coming to you on Monday.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
On The #1
You knew it was coming....the bus post. Riding the bus in San Francisco is a pretty ridiculous experience. Even though I am lucky that I happen to have an express to downtown bus right outside my door, by the time it actually gets to my door, it looks like this:
The Positives:
1. It takes 15 minutes to get downtown from my house in the morning a huge improvement over my former commute on BART which took 45 minutes.
2. It's an express, so you don't have to deal with all the stops along the way.
The Negatives:
1. Please refer to above picture. Enough said.
2. Having to listen to the awkward conversation between a woman and man who are obviously on the morning side of a one night stand.
3. Having to listen to the guy next to me call his parents and the conversation begins, "Hey Dad.....its me........Brian........your son?......". Maybe you shouldn't be calling your father who you obviously haven't talked to in a while from a crowded City bus, just a thought.
A Guide to San Francisco Buses (as I currently know it):
#1BX - Express to downtown bus, "The Home Turf". Full of working yuppies and singletons giving the "Muni-Face", crowded as all get out, at least one overheard moronic conversation per day. Just a quick aside, "Muni-Face" is defined as, eyes on the floor, no smiling, no talking. It is easier to give good "Face" while checking your Facebook on your PDA.
#1 (non-express) - This bus route goes directly through Chinatown, which everyone has told me was not a good thing. I didn't understand why until yesterday riding home. I was pretty comfortable, had a seat (which is a total perk), was good to go, UNTIL, the bus stopped in Chinatown and about 40 people got on. This is why my friend refers to the #1 as "The Orient Express"
#22 - I like to call this one the "Hampton Jitney". It's full of Marina types decked out in Lulu Lemon active wear off to shop on Union and Chestnut Streets.
#24 - My friend Jen lives right off of this line, so I call it "The Jen Express". I like this bus line because it brings you cross-town on Divisidero to The Haight, which is one of my favorite shopping haunts.
#38L - "The 38 Sleazy", runs up and down Geary. This is the bus line that has been made famous for Muni fights between women as seen on YouTube. I try to stay away from this one. In fact, I try to stay away from Geary altogether, unless I'm going to the Fillmore or The Boom Boom Room!
The Positives:1. It takes 15 minutes to get downtown from my house in the morning a huge improvement over my former commute on BART which took 45 minutes.
2. It's an express, so you don't have to deal with all the stops along the way.
The Negatives:
1. Please refer to above picture. Enough said.
2. Having to listen to the awkward conversation between a woman and man who are obviously on the morning side of a one night stand.
3. Having to listen to the guy next to me call his parents and the conversation begins, "Hey Dad.....its me........Brian........your son?......". Maybe you shouldn't be calling your father who you obviously haven't talked to in a while from a crowded City bus, just a thought.
A Guide to San Francisco Buses (as I currently know it):
#1BX - Express to downtown bus, "The Home Turf". Full of working yuppies and singletons giving the "Muni-Face", crowded as all get out, at least one overheard moronic conversation per day. Just a quick aside, "Muni-Face" is defined as, eyes on the floor, no smiling, no talking. It is easier to give good "Face" while checking your Facebook on your PDA.
#1 (non-express) - This bus route goes directly through Chinatown, which everyone has told me was not a good thing. I didn't understand why until yesterday riding home. I was pretty comfortable, had a seat (which is a total perk), was good to go, UNTIL, the bus stopped in Chinatown and about 40 people got on. This is why my friend refers to the #1 as "The Orient Express"
#22 - I like to call this one the "Hampton Jitney". It's full of Marina types decked out in Lulu Lemon active wear off to shop on Union and Chestnut Streets.
#24 - My friend Jen lives right off of this line, so I call it "The Jen Express". I like this bus line because it brings you cross-town on Divisidero to The Haight, which is one of my favorite shopping haunts.
#38L - "The 38 Sleazy", runs up and down Geary. This is the bus line that has been made famous for Muni fights between women as seen on YouTube. I try to stay away from this one. In fact, I try to stay away from Geary altogether, unless I'm going to the Fillmore or The Boom Boom Room!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Shop 'Til You Drop
Today I figured out that San Francisco is pretty small for a big City. What better excuse then shopping to get out and about on a beautiful Sunday in SF? After a lazy morning, I made the choice to head over to Union Street to find some "comfortable" flats. I quoted "comfortable" because as you ladies know unless you break down and wear tennis shoes (which I might have to do with all this walking) it is hard to find a cute and comfortable shoe. I always error on the side of cute myself and I have the blisters to prove it.
Anyway, I hopped on the #22, braved the small dogs, Lulu Lemon sweatsuits and Frat boys swilling Bloody Marys at Perry's to venture to the Marina in search of the perfect shoe. I'm happy to say I survived and even liked Union Street, which is full of cafes, cute little boutiques mixed in with some Chain stores. All in all a great place to stroll, shop and people watch.
After finding the perfect shoe (just not in my size), I was headed up to Cole Valley anyway to watch the Super Bowl at my friend's house and since Cole Valley is oh so close to the Haight I decided to do a little more shopping prior to kick-off.
I love the Haight and I'm pretty comfortable there as this is the place we've been coming to since High School. The Haight is where 'Burbs kids go to go Thrift Storing, get something pierced or tattooed and score weed. Not that I've done any of those things there - well the Thrift Storing I can cop to. Cole Valley sits right above the Haight on the hill. It is such a darling little neighborhood filled with beautiful tree lined streets but due to the steep incline of the hill connecting it to the Haight, it is close to but well out of the fray. I like Cole Valley, its quiet and serene but a little removed from the core of the City for me.
I've found walking to be a great way to see the City. I can feel my butt shaping up. And getting into shape isn't the only benefit to all this walking, you get to admire the very cool and unique architecture in SF and stumble across all sorts of great coffee houses, restaurants and shops. I must've taken thirty mental notes about places I wanted to go back to that would be perfect to just lounge around on a sunny day and sip a latte or brunch with friends. That is the great thing about living here it seems everyone is my age, doing what I'm doing. After living in the 'Burbs where my weekends usually consisted of Target runs and running into people from High School at the same three boring bars, the density of things to do here and places to go and people to meet is a wonderful and refreshing change.
Having the privilege to wander around shopping and drinking coffee is pretty cool and it was a great way to end my first official week in the City. I have to say I'm pretty impressed with how much I was able to pack in. I'm looking forward to a new week of adventures coming up and I'm trying to hold on to the sense of wonderment and excitement I have about being here. I can really say this has been one of the most exciting weeks I have had in a while. I love discovering all this new stuff and being able to walk to it! I love being at the center of all the action and meeting new people every day. So, cheers to week one - I feel I'm well on my way to being Cityfied! Can't wait to see what week 2 has to offer.
Oh, one more note in regard to last night. I went to the much talked about Kabuki Theatre to see Crazy Heart (which was awesome by the way, I mean so good that you should run out and see it right now....seriously, why are you still sitting there? GO!) The movie ticket? $14. FOURTEEN DOLLARS! Highway robbery. Small popcorn plus bottle of water? $8.25. And what did I get for my $23 dollar evening, you ask? A bad assigned seat and a rat running up the aisle when the lights went down. Boo on the Kabuki - I don't care if you can drink in the balcony, I'd rather pay $10 and see a movie downtown at the Embarcadero. Okay, I'm done with my rant. One more thing I had to throw in just for my Sis - a guy just drove by my apartment blasting the classic 1987 INXS song Your One of My Kind - you just gotta love City living!
Anyway, I hopped on the #22, braved the small dogs, Lulu Lemon sweatsuits and Frat boys swilling Bloody Marys at Perry's to venture to the Marina in search of the perfect shoe. I'm happy to say I survived and even liked Union Street, which is full of cafes, cute little boutiques mixed in with some Chain stores. All in all a great place to stroll, shop and people watch.
After finding the perfect shoe (just not in my size), I was headed up to Cole Valley anyway to watch the Super Bowl at my friend's house and since Cole Valley is oh so close to the Haight I decided to do a little more shopping prior to kick-off.
I love the Haight and I'm pretty comfortable there as this is the place we've been coming to since High School. The Haight is where 'Burbs kids go to go Thrift Storing, get something pierced or tattooed and score weed. Not that I've done any of those things there - well the Thrift Storing I can cop to. Cole Valley sits right above the Haight on the hill. It is such a darling little neighborhood filled with beautiful tree lined streets but due to the steep incline of the hill connecting it to the Haight, it is close to but well out of the fray. I like Cole Valley, its quiet and serene but a little removed from the core of the City for me.
I've found walking to be a great way to see the City. I can feel my butt shaping up. And getting into shape isn't the only benefit to all this walking, you get to admire the very cool and unique architecture in SF and stumble across all sorts of great coffee houses, restaurants and shops. I must've taken thirty mental notes about places I wanted to go back to that would be perfect to just lounge around on a sunny day and sip a latte or brunch with friends. That is the great thing about living here it seems everyone is my age, doing what I'm doing. After living in the 'Burbs where my weekends usually consisted of Target runs and running into people from High School at the same three boring bars, the density of things to do here and places to go and people to meet is a wonderful and refreshing change.
Having the privilege to wander around shopping and drinking coffee is pretty cool and it was a great way to end my first official week in the City. I have to say I'm pretty impressed with how much I was able to pack in. I'm looking forward to a new week of adventures coming up and I'm trying to hold on to the sense of wonderment and excitement I have about being here. I can really say this has been one of the most exciting weeks I have had in a while. I love discovering all this new stuff and being able to walk to it! I love being at the center of all the action and meeting new people every day. So, cheers to week one - I feel I'm well on my way to being Cityfied! Can't wait to see what week 2 has to offer.
Oh, one more note in regard to last night. I went to the much talked about Kabuki Theatre to see Crazy Heart (which was awesome by the way, I mean so good that you should run out and see it right now....seriously, why are you still sitting there? GO!) The movie ticket? $14. FOURTEEN DOLLARS! Highway robbery. Small popcorn plus bottle of water? $8.25. And what did I get for my $23 dollar evening, you ask? A bad assigned seat and a rat running up the aisle when the lights went down. Boo on the Kabuki - I don't care if you can drink in the balcony, I'd rather pay $10 and see a movie downtown at the Embarcadero. Okay, I'm done with my rant. One more thing I had to throw in just for my Sis - a guy just drove by my apartment blasting the classic 1987 INXS song Your One of My Kind - you just gotta love City living!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Lifestyles of the Rich and Richer
My first full weekend in the big City and I've been packing it in. Last night I went to Restaurant Lulu for dinner after work. I'm lucky that this happens to be where my brother-in-law works so it was nice to see a friendly face and even nicer to enjoy a delicious dinner of suckling pig and roasted squash. Hmmmm, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Come to think of it, I'm going to heat up the leftovers now, be right back......Now that I've had a little sustenance, on with the blog! After dinner last night I went to catch The Honey Island Swamp Band at the Boom Boom Room. This place is a San Francisco classic and I love that the bouncers at the door are fully decked out in Zoot Suits. The band was eh, but it was a nice way to spend a Friday night.
This morning after a fitful night of sleep mainly due to ill fitting earplugs (I'm testing out a new brand tonight!), my parents came up to see my new place and take me to brunch (thanks Mom and Dad). After a couple false starts, we found a great cafe right around the corner. The Elite Cafe was a little bit of Old San Francisco. With private booths, deviled eggs and the best baked mashed potatoes I've ever had. The host even told us back in the day it used to be a Chinese Restaurant complete with an illegal gambling ring in the basement - gotta love it!
After Mom and Dad hit the road so did I, on foot. I took a walk up to the ritzy Mansion area of my new neighborhood and was amazed at how big some of those houses are! I actually passed the one in the photo above. After Mansion admiring, I did a little shopping in the equally ritzy boutiques on Fillmore. I did manage to score a gorgeous shirt at my new favorite second hand store Crossroads! Can't wait to wear that out next weekend when my sisters come to visit.
Tonight I'm off to the Kabuki Theatre to check out Crazy Heart. I heard you can bring your own booze. Do you think it would be strange if I showed up solo with a bottle of wine? Probably huh? Okay, I won't do it then.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Every Rose Has Its Thorn
I won't lie to you, change is hard. Currently the people reading this blog are the ones who know me best, therefore it shouldn't come as a surprise that I kind of suck at change. As much as I'm excited about my new life, there are a lot of things I miss about my old one. I miss TV, my car, knowing how to find the Safeway. For me, missing things can make me feel lonely. The loneliness is different here. There are all kinds of lonely in this City. Single lonely, homeless lonely, misguided lonely, happy lonely. You can see it in the faces of the people sitting across the aisle on the bus.
In the 'Burbs, convenience is King. I think it is one of the biggest reasons people live there. It is easy to do the things that you want to do. In the City, you have to work for it. You want to go to Nopa? You have to figure out what bus gets you there (the 24), walk to it (4 blocks), wait for it (every 15 minutes). You can't control your destiny in the City the way you do in the 'Burbs. You aren't the one steering the ship and that is hard to get used to.
But, with the lonely comes hope. Anticipation. The beauty of the unknown. My life in the 'Burbs was pretty predictable. It was the same thing over and over. In that predictability, there was a sense of comfort. Like mac n' cheese. It tastes so good but you know deep down while you're eating it that its going right to your thighs. I made the choice to shake things up and start a new life in the City. It is different and I've had to give up some of the convenience I'm used to.
In return, I've gained possibilities. Here, you never know what card you will pull from the deck. It may be a fantastic dinner with friends at a brand new hot trendy restaurant like last night. Or maybe its a run in with a weirdo that results in some laughs with your sister over the phone or celebrating the fact that you chased down the bus in the rain and caught it with a high-five from a perfect stranger. Little miracles everywhere, just waiting to be celebrated. Although it might sound dumb, I feel these are the stories I will tell when I'm older to teenage grandchildren who will be busy rolling their eyes and texting on their PDA.
Adjusting takes time, but I can say since I've moved here, I find myself smiling without realizing it. I find myself believing things are possible. I won't bullshit you, I get lonely sometimes and I miss my family and friends in the 'Burbs, and my 567 channels (including HBO and Starz) but sometimes when you kick yourself out of your comfort zone and you finally do find the Safeway or learn a new bus line you will find yourself basking in those florescent lights like an actress at curtain call. When you catch yourself smiling without realizing it, losing convenience somehow seems totally worth it because you replaced it with confidence...in yourself.
In the 'Burbs, convenience is King. I think it is one of the biggest reasons people live there. It is easy to do the things that you want to do. In the City, you have to work for it. You want to go to Nopa? You have to figure out what bus gets you there (the 24), walk to it (4 blocks), wait for it (every 15 minutes). You can't control your destiny in the City the way you do in the 'Burbs. You aren't the one steering the ship and that is hard to get used to.
But, with the lonely comes hope. Anticipation. The beauty of the unknown. My life in the 'Burbs was pretty predictable. It was the same thing over and over. In that predictability, there was a sense of comfort. Like mac n' cheese. It tastes so good but you know deep down while you're eating it that its going right to your thighs. I made the choice to shake things up and start a new life in the City. It is different and I've had to give up some of the convenience I'm used to.
In return, I've gained possibilities. Here, you never know what card you will pull from the deck. It may be a fantastic dinner with friends at a brand new hot trendy restaurant like last night. Or maybe its a run in with a weirdo that results in some laughs with your sister over the phone or celebrating the fact that you chased down the bus in the rain and caught it with a high-five from a perfect stranger. Little miracles everywhere, just waiting to be celebrated. Although it might sound dumb, I feel these are the stories I will tell when I'm older to teenage grandchildren who will be busy rolling their eyes and texting on their PDA.
Adjusting takes time, but I can say since I've moved here, I find myself smiling without realizing it. I find myself believing things are possible. I won't bullshit you, I get lonely sometimes and I miss my family and friends in the 'Burbs, and my 567 channels (including HBO and Starz) but sometimes when you kick yourself out of your comfort zone and you finally do find the Safeway or learn a new bus line you will find yourself basking in those florescent lights like an actress at curtain call. When you catch yourself smiling without realizing it, losing convenience somehow seems totally worth it because you replaced it with confidence...in yourself.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Lesson Learned
I learned a valuable lesson last night...San Francisco is full of crazy people and it is okay to NOT be very nice to them. I decided to skip trivia seeing I haven't being sleeping well and hit up Walgreen's instead to load up on earplugs and Unisom. Conveniently, Walgreen's is just a short jaunt away.
As I was walking down my cute little street enjoying the window shopping along the way I was approached by a man with his hand held out to shake and a clipboard. Now I probably should have been tipped off by the girl in front of me as she pulled a wide arc around the guy while glaring straight ahead, not missing a beat and totally ignoring him. Me on the other hand? Not so much. I shook the hand, and with that kind deed, I was trapped. The man proceeded to walk in stride with me telling me about all the dead homeless children under a bridge I could be saving if I just give him twenty bucks. Oh and that Dick Cheney was the reason for all the Country's problems, which I feel he actually had a valid point on that one.
So, what do you do when you get cornered on the street by a crazy because you messed up and shook the hand? Well, if you are me, you duck into the first bar you see leaving the man on the street talking to himself. Luckily, I ran into a very nice bartender who not only gave me some great area restaurant recommendations but also the golden rule of San Francisco, NEVER SHAKE THE HAND.
I did eventually make it to Walgreen's last night, and thanks to earplugs and a little Pharmaceutical help....I slept like a baby. Thank god!
As I was walking down my cute little street enjoying the window shopping along the way I was approached by a man with his hand held out to shake and a clipboard. Now I probably should have been tipped off by the girl in front of me as she pulled a wide arc around the guy while glaring straight ahead, not missing a beat and totally ignoring him. Me on the other hand? Not so much. I shook the hand, and with that kind deed, I was trapped. The man proceeded to walk in stride with me telling me about all the dead homeless children under a bridge I could be saving if I just give him twenty bucks. Oh and that Dick Cheney was the reason for all the Country's problems, which I feel he actually had a valid point on that one.
So, what do you do when you get cornered on the street by a crazy because you messed up and shook the hand? Well, if you are me, you duck into the first bar you see leaving the man on the street talking to himself. Luckily, I ran into a very nice bartender who not only gave me some great area restaurant recommendations but also the golden rule of San Francisco, NEVER SHAKE THE HAND.
I did eventually make it to Walgreen's last night, and thanks to earplugs and a little Pharmaceutical help....I slept like a baby. Thank god!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Why Didn't I Do This Sooner?
Day two and I’m happy to report City life has been wonderful, chocked full of surprises and new experiences. I took my first bus ride to work yesterday morning and it wasn’t bad at all. I heard through the grapevine there were some people who were a little skeptical about my bus riding abilities. Happy to say I passed with flying colors albeit I did off-board about three stops early but hey I fixed that little mistake today and shaved 30 minutes off of my morning commute! It does come in handy to have an express to downtown bus only steps away from my apartment.
Last night, the end to my first day as a City-dweller, after hitting up a little Company sponsored Happy Hour / Going Away Party at Cosmopolitan, which was actually a really classy joint that just needs a better name; I tagged along with some friends to a Manuary party. Yep, you read that right MANuary – in other words the celebration of the Mustache and a benefit to raise money for prostate cancer research at Bullitt on Russian Hill.
A little aside on Bullitt to set the scene:
1. They serve 40 OZ of Old English malt liquor in brown paper bags accompanied by a condom
Last night, the end to my first day as a City-dweller, after hitting up a little Company sponsored Happy Hour / Going Away Party at Cosmopolitan, which was actually a really classy joint that just needs a better name; I tagged along with some friends to a Manuary party. Yep, you read that right MANuary – in other words the celebration of the Mustache and a benefit to raise money for prostate cancer research at Bullitt on Russian Hill.
A little aside on Bullitt to set the scene:
1. They serve 40 OZ of Old English malt liquor in brown paper bags accompanied by a condom
2. They have Makers Mark…..on tap!
3. Burgers come with a side of mac n’ cheese instead of French fries.
Add to the above a bunch of mustached ladies and gents and that is a mixture for F.U.N, which is what ensued. The best part is I did not have to take an hour train ride home. At the end of the night I hopped into a cab and was entertained by the cabbie’s story about how his green card marriage to a lesbian from Singapore isn’t going so well (seriously, I couldn’t make that up!) Within five minutes I was at my front door with my two dollars in change from the cabbie in nickels (?!?) ready to hit the hay.
Now, if I could just get used to the City noise overnight, maybe I could get some sleep! Oh and if you have a little extra time check out the video that was sent to me today by one of the esteemed mustached guests http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2EdEDVej2A, too funny!
3. Burgers come with a side of mac n’ cheese instead of French fries.
Add to the above a bunch of mustached ladies and gents and that is a mixture for F.U.N, which is what ensued. The best part is I did not have to take an hour train ride home. At the end of the night I hopped into a cab and was entertained by the cabbie’s story about how his green card marriage to a lesbian from Singapore isn’t going so well (seriously, I couldn’t make that up!) Within five minutes I was at my front door with my two dollars in change from the cabbie in nickels (?!?) ready to hit the hay.
Now, if I could just get used to the City noise overnight, maybe I could get some sleep! Oh and if you have a little extra time check out the video that was sent to me today by one of the esteemed mustached guests http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2EdEDVej2A, too funny!
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