San Francisco and what to do in it

When we were in San Francisco a few years back, we stayed at the Hotel Zetta which was near 5th and Market, we got a nice deal and it was a good place to stay - clean, friendly staff, although honestly we were out and about so much it was really just a place to crash in exhaustion each night. There was tons of interesting stuff within walking distance, including SFMOMA and some great dining/brewery options. It was a long, leisurely walk, but we did walk to the Ferry Building from there one day.

Honestly, so much of what we wanted to see and do was all over the city, meaning that some form of transportation was needed at some point. In pre-pandemic times, we relied on Lyft/Uber quite a bit for the longest hauls. Obviously your comfort level and ability to do the same might be different.

Anyway, I would definitely recommend Hotel Zetta as a good place to stay with a helpful staff and, at least as of a few years ago, very reasonably priced.

The Ferry Building is bougie/yuppie tourist whereas Fisherman's Wharf is more middle-American tourist. It's basically like what Fisherman's Wharf/Cannery Row in Monterey is, but bigger.

It still stings that Aquarius Records announced their closing a couple weeks after we booked our trip and was closed a month before we got out there. At least we got to see the sign that was still up when Stranded first took over.

lol Stranded

Honestly, Aquarius' store wasn't that exciting tbh ... you shouldn't feel that stung. Like, it was a small storefront, it wasn't like all the stuff you could get through mail order in one huge emporium the size of Amoeba

If you walk past Fisherman's Wharf towards Aquatic Park, it's pretty cool... where the Balclutha is moored. Old fishing boats, a little beach, etc.

xpost - Yeah, I've seen photos (and now footage from that upcoming doc), it was more just that I'd been mail ordering from them for many years at the point and it would have been cool to see where so much of my money had gone and meet some of the people behind their awesome mailing list (or at least thank Andee for putting out that awesome Weakling record).

Stranded left that location now, right? Owner is ... kind of annoying

I used to have to bike from the Embarcadero to the Marina a few days a week for work, and I can attest to how actually pretty and sort of weird a lot of the area around the waterfront is.

But I also love fog and sea air.

And the weather's been great (ie cool and windy and cloudy/foggy) today, so.

I used to have to bike from the Embarcadero to the Marina a few days a week for work, and I can attest to how actually pretty and sort of weird a lot of the area around the waterfront is.

― it's like edging for your mind (the table is the table), Thursday, April 22, 2021 1:02 PM (fifteen minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

But I also love fog and sea air.

― it's like edging for your mind (the table is the table), Thursday, April 22, 2021 1:03 PM (fourteen minutes ago)

Yeah -- I worked for a year for a restaurant in Fisherman's Wharf and also had a few jobs where I worked near the Marina. I agree with Table. ...

I worked across the street from Pier 39 for many years. It's chill but also a dead zone

yr kid might like the Exploratorium which is a block up from the Ferry Building.

More than a block, but yeah - it's rad, and cool for adults too.

I live just a few blocks from Fisherman's Wharf and The Cannery. In normal times it would be a very festive place to take a kid but it hasn't come back to life yet. Going west on the north waterfront from Fisherman's Wharf to the beach at Aquatic Park, then Fort Mason, the Marina Green, Crissy Field and Fort Point - those are really great areas for walking

Yeah, have deep love for that area. I had many surreal bicycling experiences there, some good some bad.

We've booked the Hyatt Regency in the Embarcadero Center. Paid extra for making it refundable till the day before, in case we change our minds, or everything goes tits up with a new Covid variant. I think someone said it was a bit more like London's South Bank round that way, which fits with our bougie yuppieness. What are yuppies called when they're middle-aged? Muppies?

Exploratorium still closed, which is a shame.

IIRC, the massive lobby of the Hyatt Regency was where they filmed the original Logan's Run

omg i love the Hyatt lobby, it’s so cool

Indeed!

So the dates you'll be around again? I know it's upthread somewhere but just to reconfirm.

If you like Greek food, Kokkari is an easy walk for a splurge meal.

It seems that Logan's Run used the Hyatt Regency Houston rather than San Francisco, but I'm not letting that put me off. It was used in The Towering Inferno, however, which I've never seen. Might watch it as prep.

Will be there May 15-18. What day might be good to have a drink?

Well the 15th itself is a Saturday but I understand if you'd all just want to take it easy that night. How about Sunday the 16th in the afternoon?

Belated yes to that Sunday plan!

I'd join for that

I may be able to join too.

In other news, SF is finally down to last May levels of new infections:

https://data.sfgov.org/stories/s/dak2-gvuj

Yes, we're continuing to do very well. And this weekend is definitely the busiest outdoors we've had in months.

So for next Sunday the 16th, what's a good suggestion as to where to meet? Shall we try and keep it casual like a park hang or do we want to try for something more formal w/r/t outdoor seating etc? In terms of time, I'd say any time from early afternoon on is great.

Somewhere outdoors where you can get a beer would suit me. Not sure if my wife and son will join us or not next Sunday but hanging out with them in the Portland waterfront park with the food stalls and pint of Mo Haze IC was a very nice start to the vacation so maybe something like that if it exists?

I have a couple of ideas -- while the Ferry Building is again almost blatantly obvious as a choice simply because you're in Embarcadero Center, would rather defer to lukas (and/or sarahell, if you're in?) to make another call if they feel one's warranted.

the Hyatt lobby also features in Mel Brooks' "High Anxiety"

Washington Square Park in North Beach is about a fifteen minute walk from Embarcadero Center and is a pretty nice place to hang out, that would be my pick.

Sounds good to me!

And me!

Sounds like a plan. Let's lock in details later; hell if we even wanted to picnic lunch it there's a slew of spots to choose from right there. Otherwise bring some beers to split?

sure. I'll probably order some pizza from Tony's too.

So it's almost here -- should we just aim for noon Sunday? Any particular spot in the park? I can bring some beer and cider -- maybe some 21st Amendment and Golden State retrospectively, though I might see if I can get a Cellarmaker growler or something. Me, Lukas, Alba and family, anyone else?

Don't bring much for me to drink, I'll have a drink or two max.

If I got pizza from Tony's, would anyone eat some?

Oh absolutely!

We’d eat pizza (and contribute of course!). Just back on the internet after two days of-grid. Noon sounds good.

Hope the trip continues to go well! Do you have any particular beer or cider preference?

IPA or lager is what I usually drink but not too fussy!

Wife (and son!) not drinking

Okay sounds good!

So we're meeting at noon, which is when Tony's opens, and I don't think they take orders before they open, and Tony's is uh popular, so ... pack a granola bar, is what I am saying. We might be eating at 1.

Noted!

We’re here, and a little awed by the Hyatt atrium all right. On the pizza front, I don’t eat meat but do eat seafood, if that helps. I’ve also bought some cans of IPA. We’ll feed our son before as he usually eats at 11.30 or so.

Space-age luxe vibes somewhat weakened by Rixton’s ‘Me and My Broken Heart’ being piped across the place.

Not sure how big the park is but I’ll look out on this thread if either of you want to pinpoint a place to meet. This is what we look like in a cheesy selfie from a redwoods forest cable car, except I’ll be wearing glasses. I think I’ll recognize Ned!