SF-temporary-local.txt

From @KarlTheFog:

San Francisco glossary:

cold = 65 degrees or under
warm = 68 degrees or over
summer = October
winter = July
happiness = burrito

I like to travel as a "temporary local". Here's how to do that in San Francisco:

HOW TO NOT SOUND LIKE A TOURIST
-------------------------------
- Whatever you do, don't call it "Frisco" or "San Fran". You may only refer to it as "The City" or "San Francisco".
- The airport is "SFO" not "SF Airport".
- The Cable Cars are not trolley's. We do have restored 1950s Streetcars, but that's a different beast (http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mfleet/histcars.php) 

HOW TO NOT LOOK LIKE A TOURIST
------------------------------
Bring a jacket or windbreaker. Otherwise you'll be buying a I (HEART) SF sweatshirt on the street.

BEFORE YOUR TRIP
----------------

Get in the SF mood by watching this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuDN2bCIyus

You should consider watching Hitchcock's "Vertigo" and "Tales of the City" before you come.

THING TO DO
-----------

Get an unusual view of Golden Gate Bridge from the vantage point of Kim Novack at Fort Point. Watch surfers. Beautiful, beautiful spot. Don't need to go in; just park and walk around the outside.
Here's the scene:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8cWjLMuJgo

Exploratorium. The only world-class science museum, where you are supposed to touch everything. This beloved institution recently reopened after a $300M move to one of the prime piers on the Embarcadero. It's walking distance from the Ferry Building and is a great way to spend 3 hours. Nothing like it in the world. Great place for a drink with a view: the cocktail and sushi bar has dry ice pellets in it, dancing on the water below a thick plate of glass. 

Sutro Tower. Best view of the city and an iconic tower. It's so ugly we love it.
http://sutrotower.com/

Bay Lights
Eat at the restaurant EPIC Roasthouse (ask for a window table) and watch this. Or just stroll along the
http://thebaylights.org/

Ferry Building
http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/
Best on Saturdays. Go straight to Hog Island Oyster Co. for the best clam chowder EVER. And oysters, naturally.

AT&T Park
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/sf/ballpark/index.jsp
Catch a ball game possibly at AT&T Park, or at least walk over. It's beautiful.

Golden Gate Park
Spend a day in Golden Gate Park and visit the two most amazing museums. These two face each other. Priority is Academy of Science. You can sign up for a private tour and go on the living roof. It's epic.
Academy of Sciences: http://www.golden-gate-park.com/academy-of-sciences.html
de Young Museum: http://www.golden-gate-park.com/de-young-museum.html

Best view of the Pacific with Beer
From the second floor restaurant at the Beach House Chalet, at the end of Golden Gate Park. 
http://www.beachchalet.com/

If they're over 16, take a Segway tour through the park. It's great and the most fun you'll have standing up.
http://www.golden-gate-park.com/golden-gate-park-segway-rental.html

Kill time browsing the stacks at the best bookstore: Green Apple Books. Then eat at any one of the hundred Vietnamese restaurants on Clement St.
http://www.greenapplebooks.com/

Catch the Cable Car at California and Market, not at Powell, as there are no lines.


FOOD AND DRINK
--------------
Eat a Sacripantina at Stella Pastry in North Beach. http://www.stellapastry.com/

Our only indigenous seafood is Dungeness Crab (in-season) and oysters.  And hand-harvested abalone, but good luck finding that. Do not eat Salmon here.

Drink Anchor Steam beer. Or 21st Amendment (great brew pub).

Eat ACME Bread and Cowgirl Creamery ("Red Hawk") cheeses if you can find them. 
 
Best (and trendiest) coffee is from Blue Bottle Coffee. 

If you must have Chinese food, the most accessible and good Americanized Chinese is House of Nanking in Chinatown. Go there. 
http://houseofnanking.net/. Best Dim Sum is Yank Sing in the Financial District.

For Italian, it's all in North Beach, a wonderful walking neighborhood. A block off of Washington Square, in a cute shopping neighborhood is Sodoni's, a friendly Italian spot. No reservations and they don't serve dessert, which means you walk a block after to get a gelato at Gelateria Naia (with local bourbon and local coffee flavors).


SHOPPING
--------
Small boutiques in Noe Valley (http://www.noevalley.com/). 
Bloomingdale's / Nordstrom's shopping center is enormous and amazing, on 4th and Market.
Union Square is classic (Macy's and many upscale boutiques), just 3 short blocks from Bloomingdale's. Plus it has cable cars on Powell St.


FISHERMAN's WHARF
-----------------
Tourist area. It's our Time's Square. Not worth going out of your way, but if you're there, hit two spots:

- Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista Cafe. Get a seat at the bar and watch the whole spectacle. Don't dare order anything else. Watch this bartender make about 15 at a time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-6DIdCjpIQ

- Ghiradelli Square. Our local chocolate maker. Fantastic ice cream sundaes. 

- When crab is in season, get it on Taylor St at Sabella and LaTorre's with a Boudin sourdough and Anchor Steam.

- Pier 39. Ask where the seals hang out. They took over an adjacent pier and haven't left in decades. Fun to watch. The rest is tourist t-shirts and glass trinkets. 

- Aquatic Park. Great views of the bay. Good people watching spot. The folks from the Dolphin Swim Club take daily early morning dips, if you're brave enough for the cold (55 degree) water.