Joix De Vivre!!!

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I don't remember falling in love with San Francisco, I just always seemed to be. As a kid listening to "Sitting on the dock of the Bay," Seeing all those great Hitchcock films, Dirty Harry, Clint Eastwood in "Escape from Alcatraz," and reading all the writing about SF, from Jack London to Anne Rice, I think they all played a part. Even now, I am sometimes still amazed that I live here, even after five years of exploration and adventures. It's all about the simple joys in life, I try to remind myself, as even this past week has brought new discoveries and inspirations for me to write about. The best part is that around every corner a new adventure can revive a sweet, old memory, thus finding a new richness in an experience that I had long ago put away.

A No Frills Irish Pub on the edge of the Financial district (near the entrance to China town), they actually serve traditional fare and a great pint of Smithwicks. With a diverse crowd of regulars, Steph and Ronan have done a fabulous job remodeling, and have established the #1 St. Patricks Day hot spot on the west coast. Their beverage list that is hard to beat (ask for Smithwicks). I of course prefer Mondays-Wednesdays, as the weekends tend to go crazy. We go for lunch too, usually sitting outside. They take over the whole of Mark Lane, with awnings and space heaters.

A No Frills Irish Pub on the edge of the Financial district (near the entrance to China town), they actually serve traditional fare and a great pint of Smithwicks. With a diverse crowd of regulars, Steph and Ronan have done a fabulous job remodeling, and have established the #1 St. Patricks Day hot spot on the west coast. Their beverage list that is hard to beat (ask for Smithwicks). I of course prefer Mondays-Wednesdays, as the weekends tend to go crazy. We go for lunch too, usually sitting outside. They take over the whole of Mark Lane, with awnings and space heaters.

It has been a long time since I stopped into this Pan-Asian haven. Many people who were there when I worked the grill there in 2005 are still there, and the environment is an intriguing blend of Cozy, Classy, and Exotic. In addition to having some incredible cocktails, mango ribs and sweet potato naan, E&O still has my all-time favorite Ginger Salad. I would say the best part was taking my sis to a new restaurant, but it really is always a great surprise to get to visit with old friends, like Suze, Kamal, Tio, Amanda and Alfredo… and despite how hopping it was for a Tuesday evening, we still got incredible service. It brought back a lot of great memories, and was a huge reminder of the incredible diversity and Beauty of “The City by the Bay!”

It has been a long time since I stopped into this Pan-Asian haven. Many people who were there when I worked the grill there in 2005 are still there, and the environment is an intriguing blend of Cozy, Classy, and Exotic. In addition to having some incredible cocktails, mango ribs and sweet potato naan, E&O still has my all-time favorite Ginger Salad. I would say the best part was taking my sis to a new restaurant, but it really is always a great surprise to get to visit with old friends, like Suze, Kamal, Tio, Amanda and Alfredo… and despite how hopping it was for a Tuesday evening, we still got incredible service. It brought back a lot of great memories, and was a huge reminder of the incredible diversity and Beauty of “The City by the Bay!”

Dolores Park Church

455 Dolores Street, San Francisco, CA 94110

The Nission is beautiful… but not necesarily for it’s religious significance as it is for it’s cinematic context. Jimmy Stewart, Kim Novac, and my daily trip past Dolores Park keep this fresh and alive in my mind.

The Nission is beautiful… but not necesarily for it’s religious significance as it is for it’s cinematic context. Jimmy Stewart, Kim Novac, and my daily trip past Dolores Park keep this fresh and alive in my mind.

Steps of Rome the

348 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

The epitome of what it means to be in San Francisco s sitting here drinking espresso or having a panini. Thier pescatore is the closest to Sal’s I’ve ever had (that means its almost perfect!)! Its a great scene for the international crowd as well, giving it a very European flavor… that’s one of my favorite things about SF.

The epitome of what it means to be in San Francisco s sitting here drinking espresso or having a panini. Thier pescatore is the closest to Sal’s I’ve ever had (that means its almost perfect!)! Its a great scene for the international crowd as well, giving it a very European flavor… that’s one of my favorite things about SF.

Why I love SF

I have a lot to think about… I spent the Morning Running around San Francisco, taking care of Administrative stuff. I visited City Hall, Up to Embarcadero Center, Yerba Buena, The PD, and found a rooftop garden. I walked for hours, and it was so hot (yeah, not as tough as I used to be, it only broke 90) I finally broke down and took the 22 towards home!!! Makes me wish I had a GPS tracker so I could show my route.
I have made Sunny watch the RNC, and I my classes at SF State, of course, really feed my imagination, so we had a lot to talk about.
  And then we jumped on the 48 to Ocean Beach, and walked as far along it as we could, until the tide came in and the waves started crashing. I picked up a sand-dollar and a few shells, and remembered the collection my mum had when I was a kid. “A perfect tradition to bring Aidan up with,” I thought, in an effort to steer him toward a career in Marine Biology.
   Sunny and I stood calf-deep as the tide came in, watching the sun set, and it was just perfect, an affirmation in the goodness of life and this world; that though many things may throw us askew, nature has a way of washing away the all the BS life cakes us with.
   We got home, and I cooked dinner. Of course, I watched all the news I could, from I.N.N., Democracy Now, CNBC, Larry King Live,  and Fox, but my night was capped off with The Daily Show. I really tried not to “ROFL,” but Frank Thomas as Foghorn Leghorn? Forget it. I always find the best sleep after a fulfilling day.
Cheers

Sunsets

   I fell in love with the Sunsets over San Francisco when I lived in Oakland. The orbit goes as far north as The Marin Headlands in the Summer, and south of Sutro Tower in Winter. Yesterday, as I was coming home from PHILZ in the Castro, The sun set behind Twin Peaks and created a ribbon of pink and orange streaming across the sky. Maybe it has something to do with Baby Blue, but this has become the most precious part of the day for me.
Great Spots to see the sunset from:
1) Ocean Beach (if it’s not foggy)
2) Twin Peaks
3) Coit Tower
4) Grizzly Peak/ Tilden Park
5) Pot Hill
6) Sutro Heights
7) Buena Vista
8) DeYoung Museum
9) Stinson Beach
10) Fort Mason
11) Berkeley Marina
12) BART- Between Ashby Station and MacArthur, or Fruitvale and Coliseum
13) Russian Hill
14) Liberty Hill
15) Delores Park (looking at downtown any time of day is nice)
16) The Bay Bridge/ Treasure Island
17) Jack London Square
18) Larkspur Landing- Marin Brewco
19) GGB

 

Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94102

London has its “Lungs,” Hyde Park and Regent’s Park… We have this glorious strip of Nature that runs half-way through the city. I enjoy on occasion walking the length, from the heart of the peninsula , where its eastern-most end a-butts the notorious neighborhood of Haight/Ashbury, and descend through the park over the next 4 or so miles to Ocean Beach. In many places it is quite rugged, and that is almost enough to shut out the hustle and bustle of city-life… except for the traffic which down 19th Ave, which bisects the park. There are some incredible features, such as the Nature Conservatory and the incredible deYoung Museum, which has a tower from which one can see downtown and across the bay to the east, Golden Gate Bridge and Mount Tamalpias to the north, and on a good day the Farallone Islands to the west. The Japanese Tea Gardens are pretty spectacular, but the City’s Rose Garden is rather mediocre, easily beat by the rose gardens of Oakland and Berkeley. The Buffalo pen has been a work-in-progress for as long as I can remember, and as one walks westward, it is nice to stop and sit by the several lakes and streams. One can also find kids leagues for baseball and soccer in the flats, which manifests the broad spectrum of life SF entails.
A great surprise to me was to find at the end of my journey a restaurant/ brew-house called the Beach Chalet. The dining room has floor-to ceiling ocean views, soft ocean-themed decor and decent food to finish off the hike with, and the pint was extremely refreshing

London has its “Lungs,” Hyde Park and Regent’s Park… We have this glorious strip of Nature that runs half-way through the city. I enjoy on occasion walking the length, from the heart of the peninsula , where its eastern-most end a-butts the notorious neighborhood of Haight/Ashbury, and descend through the park over the next 4 or so miles to Ocean Beach. In many places it is quite rugged, and that is almost enough to shut out the hustle and bustle of city-life… except for the traffic which down 19th Ave, which bisects the park. There are some incredible features, such as the Nature Conservatory and the incredible deYoung Museum, which has a tower from which one can see downtown and across the bay to the east, Golden Gate Bridge and Mount Tamalpias to the north, and on a good day the Farallone Islands to the west. The Japanese Tea Gardens are pretty spectacular, but the City’s Rose Garden is rather mediocre, easily beat by the rose gardens of Oakland and Berkeley. The Buffalo pen has been a work-in-progress for as long as I can remember, and as one walks westward, it is nice to stop and sit by the several lakes and streams. One can also find kids leagues for baseball and soccer in the flats, which manifests the broad spectrum of life SF entails.
A great surprise to me was to find at the end of my journey a restaurant/ brew-house called the Beach Chalet. The dining room has floor-to ceiling ocean views, soft ocean-themed decor and decent food to finish off the hike with, and the pint was extremely refreshing

Anywhere I Roam

The City of San Francisco is bounded on three sides by water, being roughly 7 miles squared. Each neighborhood has a unique micro-climate and atmosphere, ranging from the ultra-urban “Trendy-loin” with skyscraper hotels, theatres, nightclubs and derelict population to estate-like Seacliff (Robin Williams is one of several noted celebrities to live here) with easy access to Lands End, the Palace of the Legion of Honor, one of many golf courses, and other popular destinations.

Baraka

503 Alabama St, San Francisco, CA 94110

This cozy hip bistro on the other side of “Pot Hill” just feels like home. From the Seared Ahi to the Beef Marrow and Skate, the food was delish, plus how many places can you actually order FOAM!!! Props to Chef Chad. plus, the decor…Decadent food, Red Curtains and dark Decor make it a great, cozy place for an intimate meeting or a gathering with friends. Add it to my top five favorites… with the other twenty.

This cozy hip bistro on the other side of “Pot Hill” just feels like home. From the Seared Ahi to the Beef Marrow and Skate, the food was delish, plus how many places can you actually order FOAM!!! Props to Chef Chad. plus, the decor…Decadent food, Red Curtains and dark Decor make it a great, cozy place for an intimate meeting or a gathering with friends. Add it to my top five favorites… with the other twenty.

Who embodies more the Joy of Life better than Francis Ford Coppola? Well, His restaurant strives for perfection, just like his movies and his wine. At the Base of Columbus, This corner restaurant is one of the more desirable establishments as much for the quality of the crew as for the qualities of the owner… and you don’t have to worry about sitting with your back to the door. Yes he owns the building and has an office on the top floor, but the only times I’ve seen him was heading to the loo.

Who embodies more the Joy of Life better than Francis Ford Coppola? Well, His restaurant strives for perfection, just like his movies and his wine. At the Base of Columbus, This corner restaurant is one of the more desirable establishments as much for the quality of the crew as for the qualities of the owner… and you don’t have to worry about sitting with your back to the door. Yes he owns the building and has an office on the top floor, but the only times I’ve seen him was heading to the loo.

Lite For Life

1300 Sanchez St, San Francisco, CA 94131

How do we maintain healthy lifestyles? My Uncle Dennis put it simply: Don’t consume more calories than you burn. This Boutique is all about building a healthy lifestyle, which is great for the sedentary life typical of commuters who spend so much time every day on getting to and from work.

How do we maintain healthy lifestyles? My Uncle Dennis put it simply: Don’t consume more calories than you burn. This Boutique is all about building a healthy lifestyle, which is great for the sedentary life typical of commuters who spend so much time every day on getting to and from work.

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Beautiful guide! Let’s see some pictures!

About The Author

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Noe Valley, S.F. CA
A recent graduate from San Francisco State University, I am always looking to challenge the next frontier. I am a writer, a food lover, and have cooked in restaurants for many years. I am passionate about San Francisco, and love exploring the many neighborhoods and hilltops in my free time, as we...