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Published: September 7th 2008
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Tim had some business in SF, so I thought what a wonderful time to visit this beautiful city (FREE hotel room). Plus, escape a few days of the HOT and humid Missouri summer. My dad grew-up in and around the bay area, so I asked him if he would like to meet Tim and I there to show us his favorite places. I'm so happy that he agreed.
We met on a Saturday afternoon. We stayed at different hotels, that were both located near Union Square, so it was easy to meet-up. After we got settled into our hotels, we decided to walked into Chinatown. This is a very populated neighborhood with bright facades, noisy markets and many ethnic restaurants. We did a little shopping and watched a lion dance. If you over look the tourist parts, Chinatown is fun and energetic. Really, a must-see for anyone visiting SF.
It's getting close to dinner time so we walked into the North Beach area (one of my favorite neighborhoods in SF). This is the Italian neighborhood in San Francisco and in my opinion where the BEST restaurants are located. We peek in a bakery (buy a few buttery cookies), then
walk through an italian market to the North Beach Restaurant. This is where my Dad's favorite meals lives. I wish I had a nickel for every time he has raved about the calamari cutlets... I would be a rich woman. However, Dad you are right on about this place!!! North Beach Rest. and its calamari cutlets are out of this world and it certainly ranks as one of the most memorable meals I have ever eaten. If you have never had calamari cutlets, I'm not surprised. This is a meal that only can be found in SF and is a speciality to the NB Rest. I did try some calamari cutlets in a greek rest. (a long time ago), but it wasn't the same. Take my word for it, after you eat the steak part of the calamari you'll never eat the tentacles again.
Sunday, we meet at Sears Fine Food on Powell Street. The swedish silver-dollar pancakes are why we came to San Francisco in the first place. My Dad's grandmother use to bring him here on the weekends when they came into Union Square to do their weekly shop. You better get to Sears early - well
before 9am - or expect to wait in the line that bends around the corner. Of course, it's worth the wait.
We then make our way to Golden Gate Park. The morning is thick with fog, so thick it almost feels like rain.... but I like it. My Dad grew-up less then a block from Golden Gate Park and this was his playground as a child. We head to the Japanese Tea Garden and stroll around the pond. We stop in the tea house for something hot to drink and rest our legs. The fog/mist seems to intensify the lushness of the gardens. It's very lovely. We leave the garden and walk over to the de Young Art Museum. Well, luck was on our side because Dale Chihuly has an exhibit and we buy our tickets. The de Young went through a recent renovation and the collection really shines. But, nothing could really compare to the Chihuly installations for me.
We visit the Victorian Conservatory of Flowers on our way out of the park. This is the oldest building in the park and houses more than 20,000 rare and exotic plants. It was warmer and drier inside, so
that was a huge benefit. Dad takes us across the street to the house were he lived with his grandmother. What an incredible place for a boy to grow-up. Of course, it was a much different time and the neighborhood has changed some. He holds fond memories here and I'm so lucky he could share a little of this place with Tim and I.
We hop on the bus to the eastern end of Golden Gate Park to see the pacific ocean and seal rock. After our bus ride back to Union Square we get some dinner in Chinatown. We end the evening at Fisherman's Wharf with some HOT sourdough bread at Boudin Bakery (extra butter). The bread is a huge crowd pleaser, in our small crowd (Dad & I).
Monday, poor Tim has to work, but this mean I get Dad to myself. I meet him at Sears and after breakfast we walk to Yerba Buena Gardens and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. My Dad gets me into the museum for FREE... he really is my hero (with his Grand Rapids Art Museum membership). The SFMOMA has a show of Frida Kahlo and it was
really wonderful to see a few of her pieces that I have only seen in books.
We leave the museum and jump into a cab. The driver takes us to the Golden Gate Bridge. SF now has some sort of law that all new taxi have to be hybrids... what a terrific idea. Taxi rides are super interested in SF, with all the up and down streets. I think it's like being in a car-chase scene from that Steve McQueen movie. I have one piece of advice, you better find the seatbelt before you shut the car door.
Our taxi drivers drops us off at Fort Point Lookout (built 1861, way before the bridge), so we are under the Golden Gate Bridge (open to the public in 1937). The fog sits heavy on this American icon, and it's really a grand sight. After we hike up the fort - and I take the usual "ton of photos" - we head back towards the city through Crissy Field. It's a lovely stroll along the San Francisco Bay with great views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. We stop at the Palace of Fine Arts - for more photos
- and then precede onward to find some lunch. We end up at Ghirardelli Square, and stumble into a new sushi restaurant. The food and service were very good. Both Dad and I had our eyes on a sundae at Ghirardelli's (dark chocolate & carmel) so we shared an order of sushi, so that we have room for the really good stuff.... like father like daughter.
We met up with Tim in the evening and enjoy a relaxing dinner in North Beach, the evening really turned out beautiful, and I wish it didn't have to end. After another crazy taxi ride back the hotel, we say good night.
Tuesday, Dad and I take a wine tour through Napa & Sonoma Valleys. It was a very relaxing day, and we left the driving up to our tour guide. We stopped at three different wineries and sampled some outstanding wines. I even learned a little about the history of wine in CA, and got some pointers on how to sample at a tasting. We ate a very yummy lunch at an outdoor cafe in downtown Sonoma. The day was sunny, warm, with a gentle breeze. It was a change from
the fog and cooler temps in the city. The day flew by and the next thing I knew we were heading back to SF. We drove over the Golden Gate Bridge... that was a thrill for me. After a quick break at out hotels we meet Tim and enjoy our final dinner together in a charming neighborhood restaurant in the Pacific Heights area.
This was the most memorable trip and I truly hope to meet my Dad in the city by the bay again. I already miss the calamari cutlets and the silver dollar pancakes.... almost as much as I miss my dad.
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Dad
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Like father like Daughter
Dear Daughter, You have in words and pictures made our trip one I will never forget. I thought for many years I had left my heart in san Francisco, but I I now know it belongs to my family, with a big piece to you...... wonderful work. Love, Dad