San Francisco and what to do in it

I watched the bonfire right outside the beauty bar for about 30 minutes and was surprised at the lack of police or fire dept involvement. That said, it was a surprisingly tame and civilized celebration compared to the crazies in the 200-person crowd out front of civic center who kept swarming any car that tried to drive by and jumping on them like a 5 year old on a bed.

Tough night for MUNI:

http://www.munidiaries.com/2012/10/29/giants-win-world-series-sf-trashes-muni/

just saw it last night and am pretty tempted to see it again, actually. when's the ticket for?

D'oh! Didn't see this till now, soz!

ha no worries, sunday is the only day that would've worked and i would've been only half-awake anyway

It was for Saturday night, FYI.

I'm going to San Jose for 3 days this weekend! A crazy short trip from the UK.

I'm planning to head to San Francisco on Friday and Sunday... Overwhelmed before I've even got there!

So far I've got my eye on the Haight area and Amoeba there for one of the days.

What might be a good plan for another day?

I'm accompanying my 17 year step-brother on a competition prize trip, so it may not all be entirely straight-forward.

bike across the golden gate bridge and up hawk hill (just got back from there)

get beer at cerveceria de mateveza (18th and church) and drink them in dolores park

now someone who's lived here longer than two years should go

Was gonna suggest eating and drinking in Dolores park tbh

If you feel like going to a show, there's always

http://www.foopee.com/punk/the-list/by-date.0.html

you can check out some Nancarrow-related films and performances at the Berkeley Art Museum

Any fun things going down tomorrow night?

Not sure about night, but there is a world series parade downtown during the day

Also another bus burning is scheduled for later.

Tomorrow night: International Freakout Dance Party at Make-Out Room

Thanks. All good ideas.

I think I'm going in a state of un-prepared wide-eyed wonder!

I love San Francisco!

I was grinning like a kid when I walked into Amoeba. Want to head to Aquarius today.

Any suggestions of good diner style places for food within the main city area? Wanting something simple and non-touristy for burgers, mammoth sandwiches, fries, milkshakes, apple pie and such. We don't have that kind of place so much in the UK.

lol Brits always want to do that!
My friend always recommended this place in North Beach (not too far from city centre) that would fit the bill: http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/mos-grill-san-francisco
We liked touristy if we did that kind of thing so took family to that Lori's downtown (near Union Sq, Blondies Pizza etc) as there's all kinds of americana in there and it was p quiet when we went.

Deli Board has mammoth sandwiches
http://www.deliboardsf.com/

The one place we always take visitors is the bar at the grand hyatt hotel near union square - it's on the 36th floor and has spectacular views. It's a bit of a hidden gem, and is usually pretty quiet.

Thanks. I had just googled and found Lori's myself, which looks to pretty much fit my bill!

I'm a predictable Britisher in parts it seems! :-)

Gott's Roadside in the Ferry Building for burgers fries and shakes imo

locals wait in LONG lines for this place but i've never actually eaten @ Ike's. it's kinda near Aquarius, too
http://ilikeikesplace.com/

Ike's is great but def not a burger place or diner style. V good sandwiches tho

All sounds great, thanks everyone. Heading out now for the Caltrain from Mountain View.

Ike's is great but def not a burger place or diner style. V good sandwiches tho

xpost: non-touristy/mammoth sandwedges. didn't know ferry plaza was non-touristy

oh, I didn't notice non-touristy.

isn't there a decent burger place on valencia, a few blocks up from Aquarius?

Big Mouth Burgers?

The Philly cheesesteak place next to Big Mouth is pretty good IIRC. 24th and Valencia.

Phat Phillys.

Both of those are yummy.

Wise Bros deli is also delish.

I haven't been to Wise Bro's since they stopped being a pop-up.

Wise SONS. (24th and Shotwell) - it's great, was just there last wednesday w/my dad. (not a diner tho)

Lori's is horrible imho. Sparky's in the Castro is pretty great trad-diner fare also 24-hrs

Lori's is the worst restaurant I have eaten at in the bay area. I've had better food at a Missouri truck stop.

isn't there a decent burger place on valencia, a few blocks up from Aquarius?

Big Mouth is on 24th, and around the corner. Pretty sure sarahell is thinking of Burger Joint

Super Duper burger on Market and 16th is pretty (plus all you can eat pickles). I prefer it to either Burger Joint or Burgermeister.

is pretty good

will second Sparky's esp for post-booze hunger attack

xxp - Shakey otm re: Burger Joint and the awfulness of Lori's. The place in the Tenderloin near Kimo's (spacing on the name) is fine and actually feels like a diner.

Sparky's is horrible, walk a few blocks up Market and go to Orphan Andie's if you are up that late.

Miller's East Coast Deli on Polk and wherever is good and they also have some diner fare.

Agree that Sparky's is really mediocre although it was always better than Bagdad. Now I guess it might be better than nothing.

agree that Orphan Andie's is good

ike's is eh, okay. vastly overrated by yelpers who call sandwiches "sammies." for non-burger sandwiches, go the extra couple of blocks to rhea's deli at Valencia and 19th. deli board as noted above is p good too.

if you really want something simple and non-touristy for burgers, mammoth sandwiches, fries, milkshakes, apple pie and such, you're looking for the Apple Pan on Pico in Los Angeles. but orphan andy's super duper burger, or st. francis fountain could do all right.

i'd vote st. francis. def non-touristy and they serve mitchell's ice cream which is local and for my money still tops the hipster scoops at bi-rite, humphry slocombe, and mr. and mrs. miscellaneous.

"It's Tops" on Market near Octavia has decent diner food and pitch perfect americana decor and staff (sassy waitresses in costume). I'm not a big fan of Sparky's at all. Ike's has good sandwiches but I'd just as soon never go there again since Dinosaurs (granted, it's a banh mi place, not really american sandwiches) is just a block away and is just as good, cheaper and has a much shorter line.

Loved dinosaurs, used to go there all the time

oh duh, forgot about st. francis. yeah, that's the spot.