Latest posts from our San Francisco expert:
Trekking up and Sliding down
There are many ways to get around in San Francisco. Renting bikes is a great option, as long as you steer clear of the (almost) vertical streets. Catching cabs is fine too, but they are more expensive than you might hope. The cable cars are classic and make for good pictures, but they can only take you through a tiny section of the city. My vote is get some good walking shoes and explore the dozens of staircases throughout the city. These staircases are not only a great way to get around, but they also lead through more residential areas and provide visitors with a good taste of the quaint and often hidden streets in SF. There are countless stairs that weave through our neighborhoods, but the stair walks that lead in and out of the Castro/Dolores Heights neighborhood prove to be some of the most rewarding. Start out tackling the Liberty Hill Stairs located on Sanchez between Liberty Street and 21st. A series of three staircases take you up to the top of Liberty Hill. From the top, you can see the Castro to your left, the Mission to your right, Noe Valley behind you and Downtown San Francisco in front of you. It is a spectacular spot to look out and get a lay of the land.
After all that vertical gain, you may be craving a little more fun and a little less work. Luckily there are some secret San Francisco slides located in the area. The Seward Slides are located on Douglas Street at Seward, just a few blocks west of Castro Street. These steep cement shoots are frequently visited by local adults and kids who happily cart cardboard up the hill. The slides are steep and short, but the thrill is memorable. There is usually plenty of spare cardboard so don't worry about that part, just keep your elbows tucked to your sides and head on down. In my opinion, there is no better way to balance an uphill hike, than a downhill slide.
Dim Sum for all occasions
Dim Sum can be a special treat, a weekend ritual, or a three in the morning detour. In San Francisco, Dim Sum restaurants come in all forms making it easy to find an eatery that caters to your dim sum style. From fancy to casual, expensive to cheap cheap cheap, here is a short list of the best Dim Sum places in the city.
Ton Kiang is my pick. It is a little on the pricey side, but still casual and comfortable. Most of the tables are round, besides the few booths. The service is quick and friendly and the dim sum fresh and yummy. The menu comes with charming drawing of what each dumpling looks like...just in case you have forgotten the name of your favorite type of dim sum.
Yank Sing is one of the nicer dim sum places in San Francisco. Located in the Rincon Center, you may need a reservation for this spot, especially for Sunday brunch. Yank Sing is expensive, but expect speedy service and perfect dim sum. This is the spot to go if you are looking for a restaurant for a special occasion.
Dol Ho is much, much, much cheaper than Yank Sing and is an entirely different experience. But, if you are looking for a casual place to stop in and grab some steaming treats, this Nob Hill spot has consistently good dim sum. For just $4 you can walk away with a belly full of 10 pieces of dim sum! Don’t be deterred by the tiny space and disorganized and crowded cluster of people.
Good Luck Dim Sum is the best spot in the city to order Dim Sum to-go. There is usually a line weaving out of this small Clement street eatery, but if you call ahead, you can dart in and out in a jiffy! Go for the BBQ pork buns as they are sweet, savory, and delicious!
Hang Ah Tea Room is housed at the end of a classic Chinatown alley. The restaurant was opened in 1920 and has stuck around for good reasons. They have good vegetarian dim sum, neon green and yellow walls with red chairs and, once again, cheap prices.
Look out for all them hills!
Pumps, platforms, stilettos or even your favorite pair of boots should always be considered when packing for a trip. You never know when you will need to dress to impress. If you have filled your suitcase with these flattering options, this post may be worth reading. Although I'm sure you look great in your spiffy going-out-shoes, these hills are just not meant for heels. But, there is no need to pack a pair of sneakers. San Francisco is teeming with small and large boutiques selling awesome and comfortable Nikes, Adidas, Vans, Oasics and more. A few good spots to check out are as follows:
The Huf shoe store on Hayes street. Located amidst boutiques selling designer brands, Huf displays walls of sneakers, most of which are brightly colored with neon or checkers. The guys at Huff with surely help you out of your heels and into something a little more comfortable, SF style.
Shoe Biz has many locations around San Francisco. I recommend the Shoe Biz on Valencia or Haight Street as they are super friendly and both have a huge variety of sneakers to choose from. The Valencia location is in a converted house with a working oven next to the cash register! Maybe you will be lucky and catch some homemade chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven as you pay for your new kicks.
Bathing in America
Here in America, we have yet to develop our own tradition of communal bathing. Unlike Scandinavians or the Japanese, we have yet to create a distinct style of cleansing and detoxification. But, we still enjoy the practice and because San Francisco is full of cultural influences from all over the word, you can find just about anything you desire. Kabuki Springs and Spa is a wonderful oasis in the city. Located in Japan town, the folks at Kabuki can transport you to a rural Japanese Onsen, or a Swedish Massage table in a matter of minutes. The Kabuki Springs and Spa center offers not only special treatments including massages, wraps, or facials, there are also relatively affordable communal baths. On Monday, Thursdays and Saturdays the baths are reserved for men. On Wednesday, Friday and Sunday the baths are for females only. However, if you are travelling with someone of the opposite sex, you will be happy to know that Tuesdays are co-ed. For just $20 bucks you can sit in the hot tub, dip into the cold plunge, exfoliate in the shower stalls, lounge in the steam room or sauna for as long as you please. The facilities are clean, the staff friendly, and the atmosphere extremely relaxing. Take a break from your busy vacation and lounge with locals in Japan town. A true San Francisco treat!
Kabuki Springs & Spa
1750 Geary Boulevard, San Francisco, CA, 94115, United States
Web Site
Good ol' American Baseball
Baseball season has begun and there is no better way to get into the spirit than an afternoon or evening at At&T Park in San Francisco. The stadium was completed in 2000 and received glowing reviews as one of the greatest and most beautiful stadiums on earth. Getting to the park is easy as all types of public transportation, including the Golden Gate ferry, converge within walking distance. AT&T Park looks out across the bay, just around the corner from the Ferry Building. The Bay Bridge soars over head and Alcatraz is right across the water. It is not uncommon to see homeruns splash in the water, landing in McCovey Cove. Also, watch the kayakers and Yachters who have pulled up alongside the stadium duck and cover as balls fly into the bay. If you are a traveller like me, it is unlikely that you have secured tickets before your arrival to San Francisco. If that is the case, you still have a chance to see the game without going over your budget. Stubhub.com offers extremely affordable and last minute ticket options. Stating at just $6, you can see the Giants and the great views of the Bay. Just search for the San Francisco Giants and a range of dates and prices will appear. If you find a real bargain you could spend your extra money on some orange and black to really blend into the local crowd.
Tax Month Martini
Here in San Francisco, April is known for many things. April showers, spring break and the most daunting of all...tax day, right smack in middle of the month. The 15th of April looms over our heads and for the procrastinators, inevitably causes a mid-month frenzy. In honor of this stressful deadline, Palio D'Asti offers a generous deal to ease your mind and body. It is almost hard to believe, but for the entire month of April, the Italian restaurant offers $1 dollar martinis to accompany any lunch order. The most surprising thing about this deal is that they do not just use any old vodka but Stolli or Beefeater. Palio D'Asti's martinis sound like a great idea for a visitor to the city who could quite feasibly spend the rest of their day wandering the streets of San Francisco. But for locals, this deal may be a more destructive teaser. Hard working businessmen and women working in the Financial District frequent the restaurant, quickly dinning during their lunch break. As a lunch only special, don't get carried away with the cheapness of this bargain. Or if you are on vacation, get carried away and be thankful you do not have to go back to work.
Palio d'Asti
640 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA, 94111, US
4153959800
Web Site
The a-maize-ing benefit
Maybe you have found a tamale shop in the Mission, one that you return to every visit. Or, by chance you have been at a local bar and had the Tamale Lady come in just as you were thinking about how hungry you were. Whether or not you have experienced a tamale in San Francisco, on Sunday, the 13th of April, an entire day will be devoted to the tasting of those little corn pockets. The event is appropriately called, A Taste of Tamales Down by the Bay: An A-maiz-ing Benefit for Benchmark Institute.
Benchmark is a local organization that is dedicated to increasing the quality of living standards and legal rights for low-income communities. Join the good cause and expert tamale makers from all over Northern California as they converge on the Ferry Building from noon to three. There will be a huge range of tamales, including sweet and savory, Mexican, Peruvian, and Chilean. If you find yourself parched just thinking about all of those tamales, don’t be too concerned. The tamale festival is not exclusively for tamales. Margaritas Rock! will be simultaneously going on as tequila connoisseurs from all over the country compete for the best margarita. Make sure to balance your margarita tasting with your tamale tasting!