San Francisco/Bay Area

[denver24]

I'm heading to San Francisco for a few days for work. I will have some down time and evenings free -- anyone have any (cigar or non-cigar related ) suggestions on things to do/see?

Thanks in advance.

Head out to Sonoma for some wine. We did Sonoma instead of Napa because it was a shorter drive from the city and the wineries were more down to earth. Great wine, nice people, perfect weather, and most of the tastings are free.

Have a great trip and I am most certainly envious!

[buzz]

x2 on the Sonoma suggestion - that is where my wife and I went on our honeymoon.

-Buzz

[mrtr33]

It's my favorite city in the whole world.

Check out City Lights bookstore. Great selection, cool ambiance. The MOMA is pretty neat there, but I think it's only open banker's hours. Golden Gate Park is pretty cool - imagine Central Park on a smaller scale. Haight Street is pretty trippy - lots of homeless hippies with dogs - but it has some great vintage thrift shops. It's worth checking out if you're into that kind of thing. Also, at the corner of Haight and Golden Gate Park is Amoeba Music - it's a giant music shop, with records and CD's, lots of rare stuff. Ghiradelli Square is pretty cool to see too.

As far as food goes, check out Boudin Sourdough Bakery & Cafe is up near Fisherman's Wharf - good eats up there. Try the French Onion soup in the bread bowl - it's a full meal. There are lots of good restaurants up and down Columbus - just don't eat at a place called The Stinking Rose.

Alcatraz is really cool, but it's a good half-day adventure.

[EGQ]

What a city. I spent some time at the wharf, did the alcatraz tour, ate at Boudin and Alioto, Irish coffee at Buena Vista... I will say this -- you haven't had sour dough bread unless you've had it in San Fran -- absolutely amazing. Great city.

While wandering around the wharf area, I passed a place called Stogies -- all private label cigars -- when I saw the plethora of rum and vanilla flavored smokes, I should have run for one of San Fran's 43 hills... But like I did with the bush-man of the wharf and a homeless guy who flat out said he needed some beer, I felt compelled to contribute to the cause. I bought a few non-flavored smokes -- yard-gars at best... The 40% tobacco tax in CA is atrocious...

You guys left out the Hustler Club and a few other local treasures... Again, great city -- and the weather is amazing. I have meetings in Phoenix Monday and Tuesday -- regretting not spending the weekend in San Fran...

The garlic martini at Stinking Rose wasn't bad -- but I can smell myself -- not a good thing. For those who don't know, the Stinking Rose specializes in garlic based dishes -- I personally can't stand people who stink of garlic, but I felt compelled to try something.

This is one city I can see vacationing in.

[mrtr33]

You guys left out the Hustler Club and a few other local treasures... Again, great city -- and the weather is amazing. I have meetings in Phoenix Monday and Tuesday -- regretting not spending the weekend in San Fran...

Well, yeah, there are those types of places all over the place, but the problem is, you don't know if you're in a club for guys or a club for girls (hint: the dancers don't necessarily give the persuasion of the club away). There are some really freaky places up near the wharf.

The garlic martini at Stinking Rose wasn't bad -- but I can smell myself -- not a good thing. For those who don't know, the Stinking Rose specializes in garlic based dishes -- I personally can't stand people who stink of garlic, but I felt compelled to try something.

I didn't have a problem with the place reeking of garlic, it was the food that was sub-par. I mean, it wasn't bad, but it just wasn't good. I can't recommend it as a place to eat.