Fun for aliens in SF

Vivande - Fillmore st.

So, I am sure it is really not the done thing to contradict the words of a self declared restaurant critique, who is also your boss, but we tried Vivande on Fillmore and it was distinctly average and pretty pricey for $35 a head with no booze.

I suggest avoiding this place unless you can't get in anywhere else or you can't be bothered to walk up the hill to the very unassuming and infinitely better Trattoria Jackson.

With visitors you hang your hat on the choice of restaurant and my friend could actually lift her entire plate of spaghetti from her plate with one scoop of her fork. It was completely congealed and I was mildly embarrassed.

Am now feeling mildly empowered by my blogger status! Take that Vivande - don't serve bad pasta again!
 

Cheap BA flights to San Francisco

Get your flights now - and come and see me!
http://promos.opodo.co.uk/flights/ba/?CMP=uk-nl-080508&spUserID=1000011225147

San Francisco Stars Netball Club

Leaving London was made all the more tearful as I knew that it meant giving up a sport that I alone, it sometimes seems, feel passionately about. Netball has always been a big part of my life.
But apparently  there are enough Netball crazy ladies sprinkled across the world to mean that you can even play here.

The San Francisco Stars play on the only netball court in Northern California, on Treasure Island. There are buses that go that way from down town - but I just got in contact and one of their very efficient commitee members set me up with a ride from my house.

So Saturday was game day - I think I counted one token American - who had be lured from the basketball court and was still pretty confused. Kiwis, Aussies, Brits, saffers and a couple of canadians for good measure, all assembled for what was a pretty high standard game initially which soon descended into a unfit shambles - but it was fantastic.
 

Bimbo's - for music

Bimbo's is an awesome music venue - worth checking out just to see what's on. In North Beach opposite the crazy international pub which serves the worst Indian food imaginable but it too convenient not to visit before and after.

The acoustics are fantastic thanks to the cool maroon velvet rouching which adorns the walls. You can sit at tables and talk even when the music is playing, although no point sitting at the front tables as you can't see a thing.

The staff are smartly dressed and the place has a cool atmosphere. The bar at the end is a wonder
 

We went to see The Big Sleep - a cool band from New York - drummer Davey is friend of a friend and therefore, in my world of 5 friends he is practically my next of kin. They were playing with Minus the Bear, a boring band from Seattle and Portugal the Man - a cool band from Alaska.

Chrissy Beach

At the top of Presidio just to the right of Golden Gate Bridge as you approach it from SF is half a mile of pretty decent beach - with some pretty cool views. Families run into kite surfers and wind surfers collide with the few people mad enough to swim. So if your energies are ebbing or your transport options non existent you can still find a deserted spot of your own to admire the Bridge from a beach spot.

Roller Derby - Oakland Outlaws vs. SF Shevil Dead

A very good friend described Roller Derby to me a year ago and the more he talked the more I thought he was joking, until I went to their fund raising gala and realized that he was only telling me the half of it. I made a note then to see the real thing. 




So when Lisa "Lawless" posted on Vox to say that there was a bout in Oakland this weekend there was no way I was going to miss it. I had been waiting a year for this moment and it really did not disappoint.

So Roller Derby is part sport, part performance. Two teams of scantily clad and terrifying girls skate around a rink essentially trying to take each other down to ensure that fastest girl in the team manages to break through the pack and lap the others. Rock music blares away accompanied by the drone of the rarely understandable compere who appear to be central to all sporting events here.

The Outlaws killed the shevil dead who never really had a chance - not with girls like Kitt Turbo who just seemed unstoppable. - sorry I can't rotate you Kitt!



But that is thanks to fantastic blocking from team mates like Lisa.
Girls - you were BAD ass! See my Vox blog for action footage.



The night was a sell out - if you are going get tickets well in advance - and a car helps - transport out to Oakland Arena (really near the airport) is pretty stinky.

Muir Woods

Trees - so what?! This place will have even the most urban loving creatures in awe and with sore necks.( (If only I could rotate this picture) Never have trees been so ridiculously tall.

Don't be put off by the masses of people milling around at the entrance, Muir Woods is plenty big enough to feel pretty alone after a short walk. We took the Oceanic view trail (which no longer provides the view its name promises - so don't be shocked if you don't see the sea - you need to head straight on up the hill once you get to the ominously named "Lost Trail" sign which points down to the left and back into the depths of the forest. It is worth the climb! That is the sea in the background, I promise.

This is a 2 hour, 3 mile round trip - an easy and relaxing walk  - perfect for walking down a heavy Sunday brunch (try Mama's on 41st and Broadway in Oakland! Wholemeal Blueberry pancakes with a side of greasy crispy bacon and a flagon of coffee!)

The drive here is amazing, any sign of civilization vanished once you are into the Golden Gate National Park. I guess it tool about 20 mins from the bridge.

There is a walk from here to Stinson Beach that we were too late (too lazy) to attempt. 11 miles apparently - and then what to do with the car - always tricky!

As is so often the case in this place of epic landscapes, we encountered some friends and some foe along the trail.

Stinson Beach

Stinson Beach is one of the most beautiful, and windy, beaches I have ever been to. About 40 mins from the Golden Gate bridge and into Marin County. I'm thinking you could get there by following  signs to Muir woods.

This drive rivals anything I saw on route 101. Although I don't think I have ever felt quite so car sick winding our way around the staggering and windy coast line. The beach is long, straight and exposed to the elements - the sand strip it inhabits is flanked with water on both side

The white sand and pretty beach houses make this a breath-taking walk - but holy crap it can be cold!

Best thing to do is jump around to keep warm!

 

  

Rodeo Beach

This weekend was steaming! SF is a great outdoors place and steaming weekends are few and far between - so resist the temptation to linger in bed - and get up!

• Step 1: check out Rodeo Beach near Sausalito. This is a pretty beach with some OK surf - just don't get lost - come off at Alexandra avenue and go through the tunnel - we did not do this and it took us about 3 hours to get there - it' 15 mins outside town.

From Golden gate bridge Head north on US-101 N	1.1 mi
2.	Take the exit toward Alexander Ave	0.2 mi
3.	Merge onto Sausalito Lateral Rd	407 ft
4.	Slight left at Bunker Rd	2.6 mi
5.	Slight right to stay on Bunker Rd	0.5 mi
6.	Continue on Mitchell Rd	0.3 mi

• Step 2: perform gymnastics and wow everyone with your nascent american football  skills

• Step 3: Drive away in a silly car!

Baseball - SF Giants Game

There are some staples of American culture which cannot go undone. Baseball is one of them - as is the consumption of the culinary delights that you find within the great gates of the AT&T Park. This amazing stadium rises seemingly from the sea - in fact apparently kayakers drift around the base of the stadium in the hope of capitalising (ebay) on a far flung baseball.

Try Nachos smothered in Nacho cheese - a radioactive substance which was the forerunner to Polonium 2-10, initially conceived for the stealthy destruction of Russion KGB agents, this stuff is now merrily enjoyed by 1000s of baseball supporters across the world - apparently you can try it free at 7 eleven stores nationwide.

Then there is the game itself - apparently in the middle of all this action, this chanting mob, there is a game being played - but this is really not the motivation for going.

It's best enjoyed with some crazy americans and a brace of English girls to compare notes with!