I Need to develop a List for SF

I have extensive lists for other cities: LA, NYC, HK, Beijing, even Chicago.  I still don't feel like I have a great handle on the city I live closest to, San Francisco.  I'm going to need your help compiling the goodies.  Only the City -- Berkeley, Santa Cruz and surrounding region would be a separate list.  What I have so far:

Eat
  • Burma Superstar
  • Genki - Japanese crepes
  • Tartine - Bakery
  • Mama's - Brunch
  • Zuni - $40 smoked/roasted chicken, absolutely delicious though and not something you can easily replicate at home because of their wood-burning oven.
  • Lovejoy's Tea Room - VERY girly, bursting w/ estrogen, but the tea service is really scrumptious
  • Mi Lindo Peru - excellent seafood saltado
  • Burrito/taco/papusa crawl in the Mission.  My favorite place for papusas is several doors north from Mi Lindo Peru, I always forget the name of the place but it's sort of on the corner and it's a brightly lit hole-in-the-wall.
  • Arizmendi - coop bakery in the Sunset that is known for its sourdough and pizza
  • The Sunset in general is really good for affordable and tasty food.
  • Swan Oyster Depot - uber fresh lobster salad, brothy clam chowder and, of course, oysters
  • The Slanted Door
Drink/Listen
  • Bourbon & Branch - "secret" speakeasy that requires a password to get in
  • Jazz at Pearls - where Garry and I had our first date =)  A bit pricey but well worth it.
  • Revolution Cafe in the Mission - never been, but my coworker loves it for its beatnik atmosphere and live music.
  • Medjool: nice drinks and food and dancing
  • Tonga Room at the Fairmont: one of the only remaining west coast Tiki Bars with original 50's decor. recently remodeled, but still elegant, cheesy, dark, and fun. Dig the fake rainstorm every fifteen minutes, and the jazz combo playing 'on the lake.'
  • Bamboo Hut on Broadway in North Beach
  • Cocktail and view at Top of the Mark (across the street from Fairmont) or the Marriott downtown.
Shop
  • HeidiSays boutique on Fillmore
  • Gigantic Forever 21 store in Union Square
  • The Haight: browse overpriced vintage clothing. Walk down the street to Ameoba Records.
Play
  • SFMOMA
  • Twin Peaks, for the view.
  • Golden Gate Park
  • Parrots at Telegraph Hill
  • City Lights bookstore on Columbus in North Beach

Halp!  What would you recommend?

I almost have a problem.

I can't stop buying rocks on eBay.  Most of them though, are from the same seller who sells them for rock bottom prices ($0.99/strand + $1.75 shipping).  I can't help it.  They are so pretty and I can't wait to turn them into things I can put around my neck and wrists.

1. Red coral chips
2. Ocean jasper coins
3. White jade rounds
4. Snowflake obsidian rounds
5. White howlite rounds
6. Red aventurine rounds
7. Blue chalcedony pumpkins
8. Rutilated golden quartz ovals
9. Imperial jasper coin
10. African blue jasper ovals
11. A ming pendant necklace I bought, strung with Burmese jade
12. Faceted smokey quartz ovals


NEW! Design Thursdays...

...in which I share some wonderful element of design, either of-the-moment or, more likely, one that has captivated me for years.

This week: the Eero Saarinen Tulip Table.

I know most of you design-savvy, uber-cool early-adopters are unimpressed by this pick.  I don't care.  I just want to sing my praises of this example classic, perfect design.  Things I love about it:
  • Its stability.  Somehow the base is solid enough that you can try to press down as hard as you can on any side and it will not give or topple over.
  • Its simplicity: White on white, beautiful curves in every direction, totally unassuming and unobtrusive, which means it will get along with pretty much any style and pair with all manner of chairs.
  • Its roundness: No pesky legs to bump your knees against, and everyone can see each other when they gather round.
I can't wait for the day when spending $2500 on a table will not be a big deal to me, and I can outfit my breakfast nook with one of these tables, where my kids can dangle their feet and draw in their coloring books.

NEW! Foodie Tuesdays

At the risk of over-posting, I was inspired to start another couple sets of weekly installments.  You can tell me if it's working or not, and I can see how long I can keep it up.  These will, of course, correspond with some of my favorite topics.

I thought it'd be nice to dedicate one day of the week to sharing some kind of slightly oddball food item, one that you might not have heard of or might not have thought of in a while.  This week: frozen custard.

According to our dear reference Wikipedia, it is "a cold dessert similar to ice cream, made with eggs in addition to cream and sugar. It typically contains 10% butterfat and 1.4% egg yolk."  It's a delicacy apparently widespread in the Midwest and East Coast, and all but non-existent anywhere west/south of the Rockies.  A coworker friend of mine just encountered it during her weekend trip to Chicago, and came back raving about it.  I have never had it, but I'd love to try.  How can you ever go wrong with eggs and milk?

San Jose <--> Orange County for $35

Thanking my friend Jimmy for the tip. 

At long last, the California equivalent of the famed Boston <--> New York Chinatown bus.  Except this time, it's the Vietnamese venturing into cheap-o transportation territory.  Most days they offer one bus at 8:30 in the morning, but on weekends they offer an additional bus at 4pm.

Price includes a Lee's sandwich and a bottle of water.  Not bad considering you don't have to worry about driving or the hassle of clearing security at the airport.

Jimmy's caution: "They do play a Vietnamese variety show the ENTIRE trip so bring something to listen to on your own =P"

www.xedohoang.com

Both sad and glad the summer's over.

It has been a pretty sub-par, second-rate summer, so I'm looking forward to renewed energy, focus and motivation this fall.  That said, summer really is one of my favorite seasons, especially here in the Bay Area when the weather is always perfectly situated in the 70s, and the rolling hills are so inviting.

Early 90s Monday: Givin' the Paperboy Something to Feel

The goodness continues!

Paperboy, "Ditty," 1993
Talk about a one-hit wonder.  I remember two guys from our sixth grade class danced to this song in front of all the sixth graders during PE and they were sooooooooooooo coooooooooooooool.

En Vogue, "Giving Him Something He Can Feel," 1992
I really love this video--classic, sexy, and some beautiful vocal styling.  En Vogue is one of my favorite girl groups ever.  They are true originals. 



Previous Entries:

4. Mariah Carey, "Vision of Love" and Color Me Badd, "I Adore Mi Amor"
3. Mr. Big, "Be With You" and Mint Condition, "Breaking My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)"
2. PM Dawn, "Die Without You" and Mista Grimm, "Indo Smoke
1. Boyz II Men, "Motownphilly" and Paula Abdul, "Opposites Attract"