San Francisco and what to do in it

Anything movie-related too although at first glance we didn’t see anything playing we haven’t seen. Any repertory picks.

I read this book awhile ago, in the middle of reading a stretch of urban history sort of stuff in general, and it sort of solidified in my mind that to love living in any city means to love living in an environment that is constantly shifting and changing. It's made me very unsympathetic to "omg my favorite bar/club/restaurant/store is gone this city is DEAD" sort of arguments, which feel like they are ultimately delusional about what cities actually are/how they function. Which is not to say there aren't tons of things I miss when they go (RIP Aquarius, Hamburger Mary's, Crescent City Cafe, Elbo Room, Tip Top Inn, Recycled Records, ad infinitum) just that I generally feel more philosophical about it when it does happen - it's just the nature of things. Some things get preserved and last longer than most, most things come and go - and this is especially true in a boom-n-bust town like SF, which has continually been transformed by multiple waves of migration and cultural shifts ever since the Gold Rush. Things wash over the city and some stuff sticks around for awhile and the rest washes away, and this goes for even the most iconic landmarks and the geography. I mean I once had an old guy tell me the town was ruined when they built the Golden Gate Bridge, that it ruined the Bay he remembered from the early 30s.

where are you staying Chris?

it's different when no one (in SF or NYC) with a normal fucking job can afford to live anywhere near the city; not normal "boom-n-bust"

xp

We’re in Union Square.

it's different when no one (in SF or NYC) with a normal fucking job can afford to live anywhere near the city; not normal "boom-n-bust"

lol guess I don't have a normal job, nor does anyone else I know like the guy in the radio piece I just posted about, or my bandmates that still live in SF, or anybody else I know who's lived here since the early 90s

I would say don't hang around in Union Square too much, although riding those outdoor elevators is entertaining once or twice

you could do worse than seeing Howlin Rain at the Chapel tonight, if yr into wooly stoner-rock: https://www.thechapelsf.com/

or any of the latino families my kids go to school with, or any of the asian families out in the Sunset/Richmond etc etc

why do I bother

xps

the basic pattern of SF is that a bunch of assholes moves here expecting to cash in/become millionaires off of whatever the latest opportunity is (gold, silver, shipping, hippies, websites, apps), money floods the city, those that make a ton buy up some shit and make things really expensive/transform the city, those that don't make quite enough filter out to the surrounding area ("let's all move to Sacramento, where that money I made will go further!"). This happens repeatedly in 20-year cycles or so.

Chris L: if you're not wanting to wander far from Union Square, I liked Bartlett Hall well enough the one time I went for a work get-together, for all its fairly obvious stylization:

http://bartletthall.com/

But on the weekends it's probably a crush. Generally the area's tourist trappy, per Shakey's comment.

If you do go out to the Chapel, you might as well hit up what's around there -- the attached bar's pretty solid (and you don't have to pay for the show) though I haven't tried the new restaurant. That said if you're looking for a much more chill bar all around, head over to the Royal Cuckoo, though that's well down the way on Mission:

https://www.yelp.com/biz/royal-cuckoo-san-francisco

No TVs, only music is either vinyl plays or live organ performances, low-key lighting, great cocktails. Combine that with Taqueria Cancun across the street and Mitchell's Ice Cream right near by and believe me, that's a good evening. (I live nearby but I'll need to chill this weekend after hosting friends last weekend; still, drop a line and I may have a second wind.)

it's different when no one (in SF or NYC) with a normal fucking job can afford to live anywhere near the city; not normal "boom-n-bust"

you mean, as in people can't afford to move ... with rent control, you do have people who do have "normal fucking jobs" but they have been in the same house/apartment for a long time and can't afford to move, ... I know I'm in that position ... meanwhile, most of my peers are moving to other neighborhoods or further afield and not into my neighborhood because it's now super expensive.

Thanks I’d be more than willing to travel from Union Square lol

We’re probably most interested in any cool bars or music tips.

― Chris L, Friday, September 6, 2019 10:43 AM (twenty-seven minutes ago)

If you're in Union Square, you're close to BART so you could just as easily go to downtown Oakland -- a couple friends of mine are partners in a co-op bar/restaurant called Tamarack in downtown Oakland, and there are a lot of small clubs and fun spots near there.

No TVs, only music is either vinyl plays or live organ performances, low-key lighting, great cocktails. Combine that with Taqueria Cancun across the street and Mitchell's Ice Cream right near by and believe me, that's a good evening.

Cuckoo's cool, yes. I like all the bars/little clubs on that stretch of Mission tbh - El Rio, Knockout, etc. Mitchell's and Cancun are both institutions at this point.

it's kinda one of the few spots in SF that is a reminder of what a lot more of SF used to be like.

These are great recs, thank you everyone. Sounds like we’re leaning toward hanging out in Mission.

i'm glad you know the fortunate few, "Body Snatchers '78" Collier

24th heading toward Pops is another nice ramble, and you can cut over to stop at the Phone Booth. I'd add Virgil's to the first list.

yeah I love 24th Street. we had our first baby shower at St. Francis lol

Didn’t Pops become some gentrified douchehole?

Bars for Chris: I’ve liked Shotwells when visiting. Also liked the pinball arcade Free Gold Watch (though not a bar).

Pretty great lineup for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, especially considering it’s free.

xpost -- yeah my one time there, not so great. Couple of good bars along 24th, I did enjoy Big Rec. But generally speaking when I head home from work I just head home -- closer to work, I like Junior, though, and Hop Oast is a great small brewery.

oh, there's a new-ish pinball + bar near the knockout -- outer orbit -- good people run it.

Massive Attack are playing tomorrow night.

Also liked the pinball arcade Free Gold Watch (though not a bar).

this place is fukkkkin RAD, we go there every couple weeks, take the kids. They have a great range of machines and generally keep them in great working order.

idk about Pops, I haven't been in there in 15+ years. I generally only go to bars with bands these days

oh, there's a new-ish pinball + bar near the knockout -- outer orbit -- good people run it.

Yeah, been meaning to check it out and Cellarmaker as well.

second the Shotwell rec., and i always liked Bender's. oh! and La taqueria around 25th/mission >>>> Cancun imho but i guess everybody has certain preferences wrt their tacos and whatnot

Not for Chris L. but more for locals:

There was supposed to be a Purple Mountains show on Sunday night at The Chapel but it's turned into a tribute for David Berman... I perused the performer list and nobody rang a bell except for Mark Eitzel.

Sonny Smith is from Sonny and the Sunsets, he's great

not sure who any of those other people are

xxp Cancun is nearer to my house, so. That said, what I'm really a fan of is the local La Corneta, frankly.

La Corneta's fine, we go to El Metate a lot cuz its closest, San Jalisco also near me and is v good. La Taqueria always feels like it has a line a mile long so I don't bother. But imo the best burrito in town is actually the El Tonayense truck (their brick + mortar restaurant got replaced by Wise Sons, which I also love so it's not so bad)

honestly the only burrito joint I *won't* eat at is El Faro

Free Gold Watch looks fun as hell, we’ll definitely try to stop there.

Only single seats are left for Massive Attack but they’re coming to DC where we live soon.

METALLICA is playing the yet to be named Warriors stadium if you want a taste of a local metal band.

"local"
"metal"
"band"

best burrito in sf is breakfast burrito from EBX

It's called the Chase Arena AFAIK

I'll be there Sunday night in the fucking nosebleed seats.

Chase Center, doncha know

oh, there's a new-ish pinball + bar near the knockout -- outer orbit -- good people run it.

Following up to say I ended up here for dinner -- pretty great!

this "Yes on C" campaign is out of control, want to slap everyone involved

I went to EBX last week and within a minute my eyes were itching (I'm allergic to shrimp).

Wtf is EBX

East Bay Express?

El Burrito Express.

Embarcadero Brilliantine Xcitement

Didn’t C happen last year? Or is this another C

a new prop C put on the ballot by Juul, I think

a conspiracy of doordrop printers