December 2014
San Franciscco #3
Another adventure to our favorite city but this time we had show tickets and were signed up for the Jingle Bell Run 5k. This was our first 5k together. Teresa had done one before but this run included a cocktail at Pier 23 to finish.
We were looking forward to our familiar trip into Oakland with a new excitement to ride the Bart extension from the airport terminal to the coliseum stop. Before 2014 it required a $3pp (exact change only) bus ride to the terminal, and now the rail was complete.
Spoke too soon, the torrential rain somehow disabled the nearly half billion dollar 3.2 mile state of the art system. C'mon man! So we were boarded back on to the gratis bus for the sardine ride. We took the extension on the return. Automated, cool, expensive.
The typical SF start at the Ferry building included Hog Island heaven.
Sweetwaters and halibut carpaccio
Last year NY this year SF Santa. Trend?
We did some shopping, got our pic with Santa at Macy's and later took advantage of the concierge lounge (included with our Marriott gold) spread that is very generous at the Marquis. Some salmon and cheese and meat and crackers tied us over with suitcased vodka and lounge cranberry juice. Its worth noting the Marquis is a great hotel with wonderful service and an ideal location to explore the city. All thumbs up!
Gingerbread contest at the Marriott Marquis
Friday night we took the K line (never took this metro rail system before-its in the bart station) to ATT Park to see the latest installment of Cirque Du Soleil under the tent this time and not the cheeseafied Vegas version. We first saw them under the tent in LA in 1984-part of the Olympic Games celebration so its been awhile not including Love. Great show. Classic Cirque acrobatics and staging.
View from the Marina Green.
Costume contest winners. Hands down.
"In" the finish line waiting for our 5k cocktail.
Saturday morning we headed to Marina Green for the Jingle Beer Run 5k. Soon we were surrounded with serious runners, people in costumes, families and dogs ready to run. Official time in this race doesn't count until you finish your included cocktail at the finish line. Pier 23 cafe supplied either a mimosa, a beer or a delicious bloody mary. We walk/ran the 5k and as we crossed the finish line we were awarded metals. Beer bottle caps on a string painted on the back to look like a snowman. Awesome! A major award!
We headed for the F car to take us back near Union Square to join the Santa Con. Protests were happening in the city, anger over a recent spat of unarmed black men being killed by police..they didn't run the F car up Market so off the bus and on to the Bart for 2 stops. The Christmas tree on the square was surrounded by police holding riot gear and they were surrounded by hundreds of Santas ready to pub crawl. San Francisco dichotomy at its finest.
Lined up at Lefty O'Douls
I asked for a pic and they posed.
Christmas post smartphone era
After a morning of Santas in many forms we enyoed a late dim sum lunch at Yank Sings. We had seen a story about the owner on CBS Sunday Morning-last of the great magazine style shows-famous and pricey but excellent lunch in a packed but friendly place.
Beautiful dining room at the Palace. Someday...
Saturday evening was Mass at St. Patrick's which is right out the back door of the Marriott. We heard the chimes in our room-a favorite of ours in any city. After Mass we watched the Filipino celebration outside then back to Union Square to watch the ice skating and winter revelry.
Having snacked again we skipped dinner and headed for Kuletos for dessert at the bar. We enjoyed egg nog panna cotta and a glass of 
champagne and a mint chocolate adult beverage amazing thing. Perfect dessert pairing. T came home and made the panna cotta for Christmas, way to go Martha!
Sunday morning we had Blue Bottle coffee at the Ferry Building. We spotted the Hyatt and ducked in to check out the Christmas decor. Fun display of holiday scenes.
Teresa had looked up Mamas in SF for breakfast-supposed to be the best. If a line outside is any measure then this place must rock. Got in line, estimated the wait and decided we didn't have time to get Bart back to OAK.
Smart phones have revolutionized travel and with a little help from Yelp we headed across the street to the fantastic Park Tavern. What a find! Elevated breakfast and perfectly mixed cocktails. Sat at the bar with friendly attentive
Corn beef hash and toast with mmm on it.
bar tenders. We even got to have a
free drink when he made a mistake on another order. Hey! Why throw it out? We're sitting right here. Another great SF find and we will be back-often. I want to try the dinner menu if breakfast is that kicked up.
Back to the hotel-out the door-Powell station to Coliseum-pay the new $10.05 fare and back to Burbank already pining over another great visit and speculating a return date.
We are already booked for Chicago in January 2015. If our daughter can survive a harsh winter there we can certainly enjoy a hotel lobby bar in that very same weather. Briefly.
December 2014
San Franciscco #3
Another adventure to our favorite city but this time we had show tickets and were signed up for the Jingle Bell Run 5k. This was our first 5k together. Teresa had done one before but this run included a cocktail at Pier 23 to finish.
We were looking forward to our familiar trip into Oakland with a new excitement to ride the Bart extension from the airport terminal to the coliseum stop. Before 2014 it required a $3pp (exact change only) bus ride to the terminal, and now the rail was complete.
Spoke too soon, the torrential rain somehow disabled the nearly half billion dollar 3.2 mile state of the art system. C'mon man! So we were boarded back on to the gratis bus for the sardine ride. We took the extension on the return. Automated, cool, expensive. |
| Sweetwaters and halibut carpaccio |
|
| Last year NY this year SF Santa. Trend? |
We did some shopping, got our pic with Santa at Macy's and later took advantage of the concierge lounge (included with our Marriott gold) spread that is very generous at the Marquis. Some salmon and cheese and meat and crackers tied us over with suitcased vodka and lounge cranberry juice. Its worth noting the Marquis is a great hotel with wonderful service and an ideal location to explore the city. All thumbs up!
|
| Gingerbread contest at the Marriott Marquis |
Friday night we took the K line (never took this metro rail system before-its in the bart station) to ATT Park to see the latest installment of Cirque Du Soleil under the tent this time and not the cheeseafied Vegas version. We first saw them under the tent in LA in 1984-part of the Olympic Games celebration so its been awhile not including Love. Great show. Classic Cirque acrobatics and staging.
|
| View from the Marina Green. |
|
| Costume contest winners. Hands down. |
|
| "In" the finish line waiting for our 5k cocktail. |
|
We headed for the F car to take us back near Union Square to join the Santa Con. Protests were happening in the city, anger over a recent spat of unarmed black men being killed by police..they didn't run the F car up Market so off the bus and on to the Bart for 2 stops. The Christmas tree on the square was surrounded by police holding riot gear and they were surrounded by hundreds of Santas ready to pub crawl. San Francisco dichotomy at its finest.
|
|
| Lined up at Lefty O'Douls |
|
| I asked for a pic and they posed. |
|
| Christmas post smartphone era |
After a morning of Santas in many forms we enyoed a late dim sum lunch at Yank Sings. We had seen a story about the owner on CBS Sunday Morning-last of the great magazine style shows-famous and pricey but excellent lunch in a packed but friendly place. |
| Beautiful dining room at the Palace. Someday... |
Having snacked again we skipped dinner and headed for Kuletos for dessert at the bar. We enjoyed egg nog panna cotta and a glass of
champagne and a mint chocolate adult beverage amazing thing. Perfect dessert pairing. T came home and made the panna cotta for Christmas, way to go Martha!Sunday morning we had Blue Bottle coffee at the Ferry Building. We spotted the Hyatt and ducked in to check out the Christmas decor. Fun display of holiday scenes.
Teresa had looked up Mamas in SF for breakfast-supposed to be the best. If a line outside is any measure then this place must rock. Got in line, estimated the wait and decided we didn't have time to get Bart back to OAK.Smart phones have revolutionized travel and with a little help from Yelp we headed across the street to the fantastic Park Tavern. What a find! Elevated breakfast and perfectly mixed cocktails. Sat at the bar with friendly attentive
|
| Corn beef hash and toast with mmm on it. |
free drink when he made a mistake on another order. Hey! Why throw it out? We're sitting right here. Another great SF find and we will be back-often. I want to try the dinner menu if breakfast is that kicked up.
Back to the hotel-out the door-Powell station to Coliseum-pay the new $10.05 fare and back to Burbank already pining over another great visit and speculating a return date.
We are already booked for Chicago in January 2015. If our daughter can survive a harsh winter there we can certainly enjoy a hotel lobby bar in that very same weather. Briefly.
