City on the bay

 Sitting in the office at 8:45 p.m. on a Friday isn't my ideal way to spend the evening, but seeing that I was waiting for Jonathan's delayed flight to arrive in SFO, I really didn't have anything to rush off for.  After taxing to Union square, plopping my stuff down in our hotel room, and venturing out to purchase a rather dry piece of pizza, I boarded BART at Powell station, destine for SFO.  I'd been working in the San Francisco office since Thursday and Jonathan was flying out from Phoenix to enjoy a fun filled break from the Phoenix heat in the lovely city of San Francisco.

The buildings to the left are
Embarcadero Center(s). The 3rd
from the first in the line is
Embarcadero 3 where the office is
located. 

By the time we started our walk toward the Embarcadero on Saturday morning the fog had already burned off, allowing the sun to shine unencumbered.  I was surprised at how early the fog had dissipated, but had no complaints about the beautiful blue skies and the moist, refreshing bay air. We admired and tasted our way through the market, starting with some chocolate covered coffee-toffee, fresh peaches, gluten free falafel with artichoke dip and finishing with a perfectly fluffy BBQ pork sticky bun.  Oh how I miss the awesome Asian cuisine of the bay area.


                                                                                                   

Bellies and wallets content, having avoided any impulse purchases, we walked from the market to a nearby gallery/vintage poster shop in the hopes of finding WWII propaganda art.  The last time we'd visited the city and toured this shop we agreed that upon our next visit we'd actually purchase something.  Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, nothing quite met our needs.  We found an interesting victory garden poster, an amazing Soviet couldn't-read-a-word-retro-style piece for more than we could stomach, and an interesting Japanese tourism poster, but again, nothing that fit the bill.  From there we walked through China town, meandered through some stores, then headed for lunch at Red's java house.  Per vacation requirements and to re-hydrate, we stopped at a microbrewery named "21st Amendment" on the way and enjoyed a beverage.  Red's java house is apparently a classic in the area and per Anthony Bourdain, a stellar burger joint and a San Fran 'must visit'.  The burgers were simple and served on tasty sourdough bread, with the "all included" condiments consisting of mustard, onions and pickles.  Not mind blowing, but sitting outside on a a peer enjoying a burger aint half bad.

We spent the remainder of the day shopping, before heading to the Haight Ashbury district to try out a gastropub named Magnolia.  We had high hopes, but apparently got off on the wrong foot when Jonathan called to find out the average wait time on a Saturday night, seeing that they didn't take reservations, and was told in a condescending hippy voice (yes, they exist) that it wouldn't be bad because "everybody is at burning man".

Upon arriving we were offered a tiny table that almost plugged the narrow hallway between the kitchen, the bar and the service station.  The petite hostess' look of disgust and annoyance when we asked to wait for another table was spit-on-the-floor worthy.  About 10 minutes later a much better table freed up and we were seated. In true 'time out' fashion, we had a solid 15 minutes to read, re-read, and re-read again, the menu before someone came over and simply asked "are you ready?"  I smiled, and said "For drinks", but the humor was lost.  I asked if I could try a wine, and about 3 seconds after she set it down, before I could spit out my gum she asked if I liked it.  I was still in the process of hurriedly wrapping up my gum by the time she'd walked away.  I was clearly going to be the slow decline of this establishment.

Eventually we ordered a beverage or two, ate our dinner and were rushed out the door.  Food was good, beer was on the less than desired adventure side, but the drama of the situation made it memorable. Somehow we managed to get the urban-hipster-beer aficionado-yuppie-nice-people mix wrong and just didn't fit in.  We tried one bar in the same area, which catered to an older crowd, then headed closer to our hotel and managed to find a bar/restaurant that made old fashions with bourbon and campari (un-drinkable) and left us without service for so long I was 30 seconds from dine and dashing.  Oh travel adventures, how I heart thee.

My peaceful slumber was disturbed right around 3:20ish a.m. with the gentle rocking that was apparently the largest earthquake to affect the bay area since the '89 Loma Prieta.  Right when the quake started, Jonathan rolled over and patted me, suggesting that I stop shaking the bed and go back to sleep.  This whole, causing too much rocking, is an interesting common theme for me because when the Loma Prieta hit, my mom and I were in a jeep, and she paused while writing her check to tell me to stop shaking the car. As I sat in bed, ridding out about 12 or so seconds of the quake, I thought: should I wake Jonathan since this is his first earthquake? Nah.  Should we get up and get the hell out of the room?  Nah, not quiet yet.  Even as the adrenaline built I maintained my spot on the bed, having to fight the urge to run for the doorway, since the last time my years of earthquake safety lessons kicked in, my parents heckled me when I bolted for the doorway during a minor tremor. Eventually the earthquake stopped and the silence of the early morning, void of excessive sirens, breaking glass or booms of structural collapse signaled I was good to fall back asleep.

In hindsight, I found my 3 a.m. logic strangely entertaining.  In all honesty, what was going to be "my sign"to get up, get dressed and get out.  Later that mornig while waiting for coffee at a swanky coffee shop somewhere in Nob Hill, I listened to a woman who recounted her experience of waking up, grabbing the dog and getting out of her building.  That's when it occurred to my how odd it was that simply sat there silently pondering my way through what could have been 'the big one'.  Meh, just another day.












From the swanky coffee shop we hopped in an UberX car and made our way to the Mission district to check out some graffiti art, and wander the day away before our late afternoon flight.  The entrance of the art alley was located in a very Hispanic neighborhood full of markets, pedestrians and bull-horn-broadcast public sermons. Turning right down said art alley we admired all sorts of different styles of art, some small and simple, some massive, spanning over 10 feet tall. Once we exited the apparent rabbit hole of an alley we stepped into a bright, quiet, diverse, hipster/hippie haven.  While the police were placing the last of the traffic blockades, vendor booths, artist tables, and even small lemon-aid stands were springing to life on both sides of the street.





                                                                                                     

 After checking out a few little shops we took a load off at a fantastic brunch spot named Beretta where we enjoyed the beautiful weather, and some great people watching, at a lovely table outside.  The miso frito, delectably fried calamari, shrimp and green beans served as the perfect accompaniment to our bebidas.  Our waitress informed us that each weekend Mission street is cleared of car traffic which encourages locals, drum groups, swing dance companies, artists, sign carrying protesters, and a plethora of pedestrians to line the street to enjoy and support 'Mission Local'.  The experience added weight to the already tipping scales of wanting to move back to the bay area.

 After some post brunch exploring we ended our San Francisco Mission experience in a bar named Zeitgeist which boasted a fabulous selection of beers as well as a great outdoor patio/beer garden hangout.  Enjoying our perfect day so much we were tempted to push back our flights, but decided, it would be best to return to the desert as previously planned. This had to have been one of the best weekend get away's we've had in a while and having found many a great return spot, we'll surely be back soon.