Bay to Breakers, Bean Bag Restaurant

Party on the rooftop, top of the world

Yesterday held the much anticipated Bay To Breakers race. Basically, the 12k stretches from Bay Street to Breaker Street holds thousands of people dressed up in costumes and bright colors. First start the runners, who actually participate with bib numbers and all, then come everyone else, who drink their way down the streets of San Francisco. The Panhandle and Golden Gate Park are where the real party begins, turning into a large gathering of drinkers instead of a forward motion.

A and I reunited after 9 months!

Definitely a sight to see! I missed the event last year, as I was out of town. Unfortunately, I worked a split shift yesterday, so I only participated for a couple hours in the middle. The three hours of celebration proved to be enough to get the idea. After meeting up with my ex-roommate, A, and catching up on months and months of not seeing each other, we walked down the Panhandle in our little group to get some food.

Best Costume Award: Game of Thrones!

Bean Bag Restaurant provided. Beers here are cheap compared to average prices in the city (even though I try to stay gluten free, I did have a beer - first one in over 6 months or so!). The fries were yummy and whatever they ordered seemed to satisfy my hungry companions after drinking all day. Fun ended abruptly as it was time for me to head back to work :(

Alamo Square/Painted Ladies

I didn't get the greatest pictures, as I tried to catch up with A and not take a ton with my phone. Sorry!

Golden Gate Park: Ultimate Frisbee

It has been over a year since I last played ultimate frisbee. I played in a couple of recreational teams during my last summer living in Madison, WI and loved every second of it. In moving to San Francisco a year ago yesterday, finding pick up frisbee games has been on my to do list. I signed up for email notifications, but never made the time to attend. Tonight was the night! As nice as the people I met seem to be and for what a great work out you always get with ultimate, I can't believe i waited so long to play. I'm rusty and not in tip-top shape, but I made a solid dive catch and kept up on defence. It cost me a jammed pinky, from being super intense and an overall badass, which I now need to tape and ice. Worth it. Cheers! 

Easter egg coloring, California Academy of Sciences

Such a different Easter than last year. A year ago, I had moved to to the city just days before,  didn't know anyone,  and passed the day with a group of wonderful women in their 30/40s that I'd randomly met at a bar. Today, I had to work.

I was not about to let work stand in my way of enjoying this day. I brought in three dozen eggs and all the necessary supplies to make an egg coloring station at work. Kids that came through got to decorate their hard boiled egg with stickers and rubber bands to make fun patterns before letting them soak in one or several the colors. Definitely a success!  Especially since I got to design about 10.

After work, a friend and I checked out the California Academy of Sciences, located in Golden Gate Park across the way from the de Young Museum. Unbelievable. I wish we'd had more than two hours to explore. (They close at 5 on Sundays and due to work we didn't get there in until 3 or so). They have interesting exhibits about endangered and extinct animals,  human development from apes, and even an earthquake section where you can experience what one feels like and learn how to act in the event of a disaster. The best two sections, hands down, are the aquarium and the rainforest.

I could have spent the entire two hours in the aquarium alone. From Jelly fish to seahorses to giant fish I forget the names of, it was amazing and seemingly endless. And then we find the rainforest exhibit. Walk from the forest floor to the canopy as butterflies and birds flutter around you. Just be sure make sure a little butterfly doesn't sneak out the door with you!

There was so much more to explore but not enough time. I will definitely be back! Ended the night with an amazing lamb dinner and glass of wine. Yup - solid day.

      

De Young Museum

Back in San Francisco! 

It was a little hard to leave the house today - with all the laundry and sleep I needed to catch up on from the trip (and from days prior!), but the first Tuesday of every month, museums around the city have free admission, and I have been meaning to check out the De Young Museum for quite some time. So, I headed to Golden Gate Park. I first check out the observatory tower, overlooking the park and the city beyond, before moving on to the exhibits.

View from the observatory - looking at the California Academy of Sciences
and the park that the Wedding Planner final wedding was to be held in!

I loved it.  The museum's current main attraction is "The Girl With The Pearl Earring," which unfortunately was not free (makes sense, but I didn't have time to do both anyways). Even without see that famous work of art, the De Young is a worthwhile stop. Such a nice building! I'm not a fan of the way it looks on the outside, but the inside gives a different vibe. Normally all museums feel the same, but each room in the De Young felt differently. They currently have "Objects of Belief from the Vatican" on display on the second floor, and the warm woods compliment the ancient tiki-like, wood pieces of art perfectly. Another moving sections was photography from Iraq - not of American soldiers - but of the lives of the people before the US came and during the first few years after we arrived. I highly recommend checking it out. The rest of the artwork ranged from paintings and sculptures, to glasswork and furniture. Truly, anyone could find a room they enjoy and spend hours looking over the pieces. See my favorite painting from today, below. 

        

My favorite painting. "The Sonata" 1889 by Irving Ramsey Wiles

Funk Skate in Golden Gate Park

One of the many reasons I love this city... an unplanned afternoon treat!

Gotta love their style, and the fact that the ones super into it are 20 years older than me. I think they know the secret to happiness :)

(Pause and let it load to avoid pesky interruptions!)



Enjoy this sunny afternoon!

Golden Gate Park - Part 1

Did you know that there are waterfalls in the Golden Gate Park? I didn't until today.

I've still been feeling a bit on the sick side, so I meant to just take Jagger for a quick walk. It was too beautiful outside not to return to the park for a little jog and exploring time. I'd only meant to visit one small memorial, but caught myself up in the sights of the park... and got a little lost.

First, Jagger and I enjoyed the sun on the lawn in front of the Conservatory of Flowers. A few older men brightly played their horn, guitar, and hand drums while another juggled nearby.

After lunch, I returned to the park, seeking the Portals of the Past. In my search, I passed by a few familiars then found a decent hike! Stow Lake, full of ducks and people rowing or pedaling boats,  surrounds Strawberry Hill. (The Beatles instantly came to my mind - so while hiking this song played in my head). I took in the sights,  climbed up the hill off path, and looked over the park and city. On the way down the oppisite side, I found a beautiful waterfall.

I took the short cut - straight up from the bridge!

View from Strawberry Hill

But - I still hadn't found what I was looking for. So I wandered on. See pictures below for my accidental discoveries of the afternoon.

Memorial for the San Francisco Sons of the West
who fought in WWI and WWII

Grove near the WWI&II Memorial

Finally, I found Lloyd Lake and the Portals of the Past. Something I only heard of this afternoon while researching places to explore. Read more about it here.

I also l got lost oh my way out and stumbled into the middle of a disc golf course.  I guess that's what happens when you go off trail. So glad I decided to turn my short work out into a park exploration day! Several places to return to on a date or with friends!

         I did not see this sign until leaving.... Maybe I should stick to the paths more?