Final Days in SF & Leaving the States NEXT WEEK!

The last couple weeks filled themselves quickly between wanting to take advantage of city offerings and saying goodbye to as many people as possible. On Friday, I packed up and drove over the Golden Gate Bridge towards my aunt and uncles' house where I'll be staying until the big day next week. I can't belive I can finally say those words! NEXT WEEK! On the phone today, I mentioned that to my mom which made her sick to her stomach (sorry mom...).

Without going into to much detail, I'll list a few pictures below of some of the SF activities since returning from Dallas:

REMAKE 2015 - a DIY Festival at Fort Mason
SF Lawn Party on the Marina Green
Long walks through various neighborhoods and beaches
San Francisco Zoo
Comedy Day in Golden Gate Park
Lunar Eclipse from the Sunset
Outdoor Screening of Back to the Future in Dolores Park
Various Day trips to cities in the Bay Area

After a farewell gathering in Fort Mason and hard goodbyes to close friends, I am more ready than ever to GET GOING! I've got to admit - I've had way too much time to ponder over and plan this trip.

Tennessee Valley Trail; Sublime Concert

   

Tennessee Valley Hike

Sublime Concert

On Saturday, I ventured out for another solo hike. My intention was to check out one of the waterfalls from this list that a friend of mine sent me. I picked one in Marin and set out around 7 in the morning. That became my first mistake of the day: the fog hangs over the mountain in Marin and takes some time to retreat for warmth and good views. Blissfully not considering this, I'm circling up Mt. Tam to find the trailhead, when my gas light turns on. Fail #2. If anyone knows me - I'm a worrier. Going to be difficult to enjoy this hike fearing that I'll run out of gas in the early morning cold fog. Yet, I continue forward convincing myself that I'm almost there and can coast down most of the way. Then, I discover fail #3 - the road leading to the trailhead stays closed until 9am. At this point it's only about 8 in the morning; waiting around isn't my strong suit. I decided to go get gas and find a different trail. Hence, Tennessee Valley. I literally googled "trailhead" and picked the one closest to the gas station. 

Ring Mountain Open Space

For Valentine's Day this year,  I took myself on a hike to watch the sunrise. Just a short drive from the city, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge,  you can find this quiet hike near Tiburon. Park along the side of the road near the trailhead, bring your furry friend if you have one, and make sure you have a flashlight with you or on your phone. Not going to lie - I was girlishly scared to do this alone in the dark, but the view was worth it. And to be honest, there's nothing to be afraid of other than tripping over a rock or tree stump in the dark - if you know anything about Marin County, you know it's a safe place to be.

Burma Superstar

The Food Network featured a couple of recipes from Burma Superstar, once upon a time; therefore each night you'll find yourself on a wait list. They are so popular that they opened a sister restaurant just one block away called B Star, which is nearly as busy. F and I put our name in for a 30-45 minute wait and grabbed some hot tea and hot chocolate at a cozy cafe across the street.

One hour and 10 minutes later, the hostess finally sat us.  Immediately we ordered their Food Network featured tea leaf salad, which we'd actually enjoyed at their sister store a few weeks back, and some chicken samusas - filed with a curry ravioli, potatoes, and served with their special secret sauce, lightly fried. The salad lives up to expectation with its varied textures and fresh flavors. Although the samusas hit the spot, they aren't a must have and the best part about them definitely is the sauce.

We split a lamb curry, per the servers recommendation, and some string green beans, both solid choices. Perfect kick of spice (I'm a huge spicy food lover). Looking forward to the leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Other cool tidbit about this place - it's reasonably priced and one of the first times we've spent less than $30/person in I don't know how long (given we didn't drink). One not so great tidbit - the bathroom is kind of gross. Hold it if you can!

In short: yummy, will return, won't wait more than 20 minutes in the future.

Haight-Ashbury Shopping

Even after having lived in the city for more than a year, I had yet to experience shopping on Haight Street! Yes - it counts as a new experience, and if you have ever been near the Haight-Ashbury intersection, you know why! The stores are colorful and full of life. Definitely a lot of 70's thrift shops, tie dye T-shirts, tattoo parlors, and fetish costumes alongside really awesome food spots and boutique clothing stores. Actually did some fairly legitimate shopping and found a new favorite store: Ambiance San Francisco. Ladies, you could spend hours in this stores: colorful shirts, dresses, shoes, jewelry. R and I popped our heads into a few thrift shops to see the standard tutus and crazy dresses along side standard 70s style platform shoes. A must visit neighborhood, all around.

              

Memorial Day Weekend: Balut, Spoon Bar, Lombard Street

After working Sunday morning, I found myself with a bunch of co-workers in Crissy Field celebrating an upcoming wedding. Tons of food and punch and games and laughter. I brought Jagger with me, who absolutely loved the attention and scene, but did not leave my side. Where is the new experience in all of this? Check out these pictures...

The one I ate - which was the largest of all, by the way

What it looks like when "unrolled"

That would be a Balut. Aka - developing duck fetus that is made like a boiled egg. I ate it. Yuck yuck yuck. Some people took a video, excepting me to vomit, and frankly I'm surprised I didn't!  Boiled eggs in general aren't my thing, especially with that included in the mix.

Spoon Fountain

Moving along, I went up north for a couple nights of relaxation. Last night, F and I checked out Spoon Bar in Healdsburg. The spoon fountain outside creates a peaceful sound as the droplets hit each spoon as they make their way to the bottom. The restaurant itself has huge cielings and is kind of cold, but not bad overall steel, modern feel. And the food, great. A few pictures below of the fish, chickpea encrused avocado, and of course - dessert!

As we arrived back in San Francisco, I decided to act like a tourist and go down Lombard Street - you know, the super famous, winding, steep street.

Vespertine Circus, Nopasf

The strength and agility we witnessed two nights ago at the Vespertine Circus performance inspired me to get back on my training in attempts to obtain a fraction of their muscle control and athletic ability. A relative of a friend runs this circus show and performs as well. They ran "Important Business" at the Children's Creativity Museum for its final three days before they change it up. 

Based in the office at a toy creation company, the employees, full of unique personalities, interact with astounding acrobatic moves with each other and their individual acts. From Fabrics to Flying Trapeze to a hula hooping, each segment was as impressive as the next. So glad to do something a little different in the city! Like i said, very motivational - I wish I was that flexible!

Although we had grabbed a quick drink and appetizer at Tropisueño, after the show we craved a full meal. Everyone constantly reminds me of how amazing NopaSF tastes, so the opportunity finally arrived. People make reservations here up to 6 months in advanced, but they welcome walk ins, if you're willing to wait. Our predicted wait time? Two hours. Option number two: wait for someone to get up from the communal table or bar. Ten minutes later, I snagged a bar stool and F stood beside me.

The food definitely lived up to the hype. Everything tasted fresh. We ordered broccoli, cucumbers, and the pork chop to share. Not a single dish disappointed. We both love our veggies, and when prepared properly such as here, anyone would turn a veggie lover too. Finish off with a perfectly most cheesecake and good night :)

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!

'Gourmet Kitchen,' SoMa StrEat, Ghirardelli, Michael Minas

Chinatown Breakfast

What a wonderful Monday. F and I hit so many neighborhoods today as we did a bit of shopping. We started the morning in Chinatown and stopped at a random shop to buy pork buns for breakfast. The window read 'Gourmet Kitchen,' but I'm not sure if that was actually it's name. Walking downtown with a short stop in Jamba Juice, we browsed a lot of the area stores before heading to SoMa  (neighborhood meaning "South of Market") to another shopping area.

Hawaiian - Food Trucks

All shopped out, SoMa StrEat Food Trucks, conveniently alongside the bus stop, made for a perfect lunch spot on such a sunny, gorgeous day in the city. There are numerous food truck locations all over the city, but this one is unique in that it's open daily and has a permanent location complete with seating, tvs, and a beer/wine selling permit (So hard not to have a glass of sangria yesterday! ). The trucks change each day, but your options are always numerous and your bound to find something that appeals to your taste.

Downtown Dessert

To cool down a warm afternoon, we shared a "World Famous" hot fudge sundae at Ghiradelli's. Yum. Do it.

Finally we dined at Michael Mina's. Can't even describe this place properly. Gorgeous dining room that boasts high ceilings and great location in the Financial District. Course after course passed each taste test. My favorites were the Springtime in the Garden salad, Alaskan Halibut, and Red velvet Cake dessert. Their tasting menu would be an event: dueling courses. They even have a dessert tasting menu, so if you know me at all, I'll be back just for that. The halibut arrived as a two part dish. It's plate allowed the sauce, poured on top tableside, to run down into the bowl below, soaking a surprise lobster dish underneath. Speaking if their dishes, each one is hand made by four potters. Pretty cool. I sadly don't have any pictures because I didn't want to look like a complete tourist or something.

Great Monday. Seems to be a trend lately that I could get used to!

Tequila, Urban Flow Yoga

If you couldn't tell by my previous post, I was a bit stressed out yesterday - just with a lot on my mind. No better way to fix stress than with yoga and tequila, although after today, I wouldn't recommend them together. (Not that I would have recommended them together before...)

Yoga was in my after-work plan for the day. Tequila snuck its way in there. A coworker from another department invited me for a happy hour drink, and I couldn't refuse. After all, I missed his birthday celebrations a few weeks ago! Anyways, three of us ended up taking a shot (okay two shots) of tequila after work. I tried to balance out out with a side of asparagus, but I already knew that I was about to make yoga all the more difficult.

Yoga, something I mocked in high school but grew to love in college, frequently helps me with stress and to relax. I don't consistently practice, but still feel pretty attached to the work outs. I knew last night that yoga would be the perfect medicine for my anxiety. Urban Flow never disappoints. Given, this was only my second visit, it's the type of studio that reassures you that each session will be as great or greater than the previous. Each class cranks up the heat, they have tons of windows letting the sun shine through, and it is an overall calming, warm environment. Both teachers I've had were very in tune with Bhakti Flow, oneness with nature, and all that jazz, encouraging the dedication of your practice to another. Brad, today's instructor, is probably the best I've ever had in helping with my form (or maybe my form needed extra help today due to the tequila). He frequently circulated the room and stopped at almost each student to correct their form in the most positive and encouraging manner. He actually assisted me in holding a pose for a full ten seconds, which is a long time if you've ever taken a class. It felt amazing to have proper form and push myself when I wouldn't have been able to hold it without him. Urban Flow is unique in that it is by donation, and no donation is too small. Note: if you are paying by credit card, it is minimum of $16.

Now that I've sweat out the tequila, it's time for chicken pad Thai, no tofu. These people recognize me from coming here so much. Happy Saturday night :)

Fleet Feet, San Jose Sharks

I've needed to buy new running shoes for quite some time, and today was the day! I drove to Fleet Feet and asked for assistance and a fitting. The guy helping me knew what he was talking about and runs himself. He measured my foot and arch, both while i was sitting and standing, before watching me walk to determine which type of support I need. He then brought out three brands and watched me run in each pair. I narrowed my choice down to two: Addidas or New Balance. He relaced one of each brand and told me to take a jog down the block to see how they feel. The whole time he asked questions about how they felt and if there was anything that stood out to me with each shoe.

Finally, New Balance won the show down. My old shoes are New Balance, so the materials felt familiar and comfortable. I liked the colors and style the best too, which is obviously the most important detail of all. My helper gave me a couple training tips before sending me out the door with my new kicks. Great experience - I'll definitely go back there for future fittings or basically any running gear.

Side note of the day: I stopped at Whole Foods to grab lunch (I love love love their mango quinoa salad and salad bar in general). Checking out with my salad and Kombucha, a worker walked me out and invited me to eat my salad with him on his break. Very flattering, but no thank you, although you kind of made my day!

Next stop of the day: Union Square. And later, SJ Sharks. I allowed the sun to soak in for an hour in Union Square before bar hoping towards the Caltrain station with a friend. We bought a few beverages and snacks to pregame on the train. That was another new experience - Caltrain. In my mind I'd imagined it to be more like the trains in Spain where you'd sit two by two, facing another couple with a table in between. This felt more like a commuter train, where some even had to stand for several stops before there were enough seats (although we went right at the end of the work day). We finally arrived in San Jose; the HP Pavillion is only a parking lot away from the Caltrain station, perfect transportation to a game. We bought some beverages to see the Sharks kick some Stars butt, 3-2, with two goals in the third period, pretty exciting! Such a fun time. No matter where you sit, you can see the action.

Best part of the night, balloon guys that made me a Bucky Badger on the train ride home! Badger for life. Real talk.

Scala's Bistro

I had a lunch meeting today at Scala's Bistro, located next to Sir Francis Drake hotel, practically on Union Square. I couldn't pull out my camera during this meeting, so unfortunately, I have no pictures. You'll just have to take my word for it and check it out yourself!

Very warm, clean feeling when walking in the door and the staff is friendly, but they don't over do it. I sat at the bar with a glass of water while waiting. Seated, both myself and my business companion attempted to eat fairly healthy; he is trying to become vegetarian. So, he informed the waitress that we would have a boring order: arugula salad for him, green strawberry salad for me, and asparagus to share. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. I've been craving asparagus for weeks, and this perfectly grilled dish did not disappoint with it's red, non-overpowering sauce.

After a productive and uplifting conversation, dessert menus arrived. He declined the menu and ordered for us his favorite option: Bostini Cream Pie. Excellent choice. Go try it for yourself.

I'd love to return to Scala's to try some of their main course and meaty dishes. I've been meaning to have dinner there for quite some time; this might be just the motivation I need to make a reservation!

Jasper's Corner Tap

Brussels Sprout Chips

Dark, loud, and a somewhat confusing entrance to be seated by a hostess, I was not to optimistic about dinner last night after my first few steps in the door. C and I met at Jasper's for dinner and drinks after she'd had an extremely trying week and wanted to splurge on her diet. They placed us at a table with poor lighting, and although I have great eyesight, I struggled to read the menu. That's where negativity stops.

The server, dressed in jeans a plaid, was friendly and promptly brought us our strong drinks selected from their extensive list (Rolls Royce and Orchard Malt Mule) while we looked over the menu. They provide a separate sheet to order fries or poutine, which we declined as our meals both came with fries (awesome fruits btw). It was actually difficult for me to order, as I try to eat gluten free (although you'd never guess that based on my last few posts). Almost everything on the menu includes something breaded/pasta-esque. I chose the steak while C ordered a giant burger. We preceeded those with brussel sprout chips, buttery and delicious. Short and sweet dinner. I'd return for a happy hour as it was crowded and seems like the place to be!

Eats, Land's End Sunset

Not too much to report from today. Started the morning off right with steel cut oatmeal and pepper sausage from Eats, a breakfast joint on Clement Street. Everything on the menu looked and sounded delicious, as well as everything passing by. But in finally trying to eat healthy, I avoided all the gluten and practiced a little self control... for once.

After finally catching up on all the boring errands that I had put off from yesterday, I allowed myself to enjoy the clear skies and heat of the day, by sitting on the patio, lounging in the sunshine, allowing it to soak in while I napped. I made myself a healthy dinner before meeting up with my friend to go watch the sunset at Land's End.

Couple after couple pulled up in their cars and bikes and at end of their nightly walks to watch the sun sink down below the ocean. C and I felt a little out of place in this romantic setting, but regardless enjoyed watching the boats go by as the sun lowered deeper in the sky. We were fortunate to choose a night when the wind was only a soft breeze. Normally, for example yesterday when I was here, the wind is very strong in Land's End, and along the ocean in general. Tonight was the perfect night to catch up while taking in a proper West Coast sunset. Goodnight!

Pizzetta, B Star

What a way to return to the city. After feeling accomplished in my 4 mile run, I received a warm welcome before a long day of walking in the sun, good food, and relaxation. We ventured down to Land's End to look out over the ocean and see Sutro Baths, a sight I've seen more than a few times, but F had not.

Next, we leisurely made our way to Pizzetta, which opens at "noonish." It is a tiny pizza place on California and 23rd. I completely forgot to take a picture of this inside, literally 2 or 3 tables, a counter with the kitchen behind it, and the tiny office visible above the kitchen. I'll have to return to take pictures, as I can't do it's quaint atmosphere justice with my description. We sat in the sun at a table along the sidewalk. There are heat lamps above head that are calling my name to return for a glass of wine some evening in the near future. We ordered two pizzas to share: one with egg and sausage and the other with arugala and mascarpone. Delicious.

After more walking around the Inner Richmond, we passed the afternoon lazily. I had to babysit tonight, so we grabbed a quick,  happy hour bite to eat at B Star. Apparently, they are known for their Tea Leaf Salad, and now I know why. Amazing - dried shrimp, lentils, romaine, sauce, and more that I don't remember. We could easily have eaten two or three instead of splitting the one. Try it. We also ordered Lotus chips, which I really enjoyed, but F said could use more salt. Also tasted mango tuna tacos and satay with a coconut creamy sauce. Although they were satisfying, the salad was by far the best. I had eaten here once previously, downed the bass with a glass of wine while watching Karate Kid 2 at the bar. Today made for a second pleasant experience. Now I know why there is usually such a long line!

Since I really didn't do anything productive today, tomorrow is bound to be boring with errands. Cheers.

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! 

Cartoon Art Museum, Bar Tartine, Dolores Park

Real Talk

Here we are, first Tuesday of the month: free museum day! Today a friend and I checked out the Cartoon Art Museum. I was not expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised! Displays from different time period of various cartoons, books, and comic strips line the walls in the smaller sized, three section museum. My favorites were all of the cartoon art we know and love directed by Chuck Jones: Bugs Bunny, The Coyote and the Road Runner, the little alien helmet guy, etc... They even had an original script from one of the episodes which must have been Elmer Fudd's because all of his lines were marked. All ages stopped to watch cartoon episodes,  they just don't make them like they used to!

After stopping at the MoMA around the corner, which had slightly changed since my last visit, I enjoyed an extremely lazy afternoon before dinner.

         

      

A friend and I grabbed seats at the bar of a restaurant called Bar Tartine. Such a cool vibe from the overall atmosphere and staff. I have to mention our bar tender/server because she was absolutely adorable; black hair,  cat eye framed glasses with gold on the wings,  bright red lipstick and tights with Snow White's skin and hipster style. I mention this out of jealousy because I really don't have a style and she rocks hers. Anyways, the kitchen is open into the restaurant, So we could watch as they nearly prepared dish after dish.

Their menu is short and uses as much local and in season product as possible. We ordered four items to share: the halibut, pea and goat cheese dip, smoked potatoes, and blood sausage.  The halibut dish was so so,  the others were great. Blood sausage came nice and spicy;  I'd go back just to snack on the potatoes.

What better way to work of dinner than to take a walk to the top of Dolores Park for a foggy but beautiful city view, followed by playing on an "adult" playground. Swings, slides, the works :)

Sorry for a second late posting. Having too much fun to keep up!

Awesome...