Matador Guide to San Francisco (and a lil' LA)

[tinobeat]

Gonna be in SF from tomorrow night through Thursday, and then in LA until Sunday.

Obviously stopping in Aquarius and Amoeba, but more importantly I need a list of awesome food (both daytime walk-in type cheapie stuff, and nice evening dining) and a good farmers market/nice grocer (plan on cooking my friend a birthday meal) and a place to get a haircut.

Also, in LA for 3 days, 2 nights, one night is an art show opening so basically two days of puttering around and one other night out. That seems like a tougher recommendation though cos its so huge and I'm not exactly sure what part of LA I'm gonna be in.

[jef]

Gonna be in SF from tomorrow night through Thursday, and then in LA until Sunday.

Obviously stopping in Aquarius and Amoeba, but more importantly I need a list of awesome food (both daytime walk-in type cheapie stuff, and nice evening dining) and a good farmers market/nice grocer (plan on cooking my friend a birthday meal) and a place to get a haircut.

Also, in LA for 3 days, 2 nights, one night is an art show opening so basically two days of puttering around and one other night out. That seems like a tougher recommendation though cos its so huge and I'm not exactly sure what part of LA I'm gonna be in.


SF: Not sure where you'll be, but the Alemany Farmers Market is a really good one. I think it's in the Bernal Heights area. Also I've heard that the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market is quite good too, which is at the Ferry Building/Embarcadero. As far as restaurants go... Unless you want some vegetarian reccomendations, somebody else may be able to better help you there. If you have some time, you should visit the nearby Muir Woods, and Stinson Beach. I used to love going there, although I haven't been in a while.

LA: If you find out what area you'll be staying in, chances are I could recommend something.

[Fiona]

Patrick and 9000 have supplied some recommendations and feedback in the food thread, do a quick search.

[9000]

chez spencer in the mission has fancy pants eats, yet is relaxed and casual. i highly recommend it. bar tartine and range are other nice spots in the mission, as well. both are very good. for more down home, there is a great tacqueria on valencia over there. not sure what it's called.

if you want to dabble in wine, terrior is a must stop "wine bar." totally low key and unassuming with killer by-the-glass selections. also, i think on weekends the chez spencer people park a truck out front and let you get food to bring into the bar.

the hemlock tavern is a decent dive for grabbing beers and listening to tunes. if you're lucky, someone awesome will be playing in the back room. i lucked into a sic alps set once.

there's so much there i really can't do much justice w/ my lists. fortunately you'll have a hard time going wrong.

[Patrick]

Sam's!!!

[9000]

regarding LA: what's good downtown? there in a few weeks.

[jef]

Mexican Food Downtownish

[jef]

Ice Cream!

My favorites are the brown bread, guiness tiramisu, strawberry balsamic, pistachio, and chocolate wasabi

[jef]

Best Taco Truck

[jef]

I rarely ventured downtown. Even though it seems like it's a lot Livelier nowadays, There isn't as much to do there as you'd think. There are a lot of Art Galleries, museums, and warehouse shows, The Smell. As far as downtown bars go, I like Bar 107, and Mountain Bar. Other than that, there's an art/music/book/clothing shop called Ooga Booga: http://www.oogaboogastore.com/

[jef]

there's so much there i really can't do much justice w/ my lists. fortunately you'll have a hard time going wrong.

I agree, SF has no shortage of fun and food

[9000]

thanks, jef. where's that taco truck usually located, btw?

[9000]

i'm big into chowing at the slanted door (http://www.slanteddoor.com/).

[jef]

thanks, jef. where's that taco truck usually located, btw?

Sorry, just seeing this now. It's in Echo Park.

The Slanted Door does look good, I've never heard of it before

[vesper]

j and i spent about a week in SF and northern california back in march. usually i'm ready to get back to nyc after a week or so elsewhere, but not this time. i think we could be really happy in SF, but it makes me nervous to move somewhere that we don't anyone. i also have yet to see LA. but whatever, i'm certain that i'll apply for some post docs (assuming any are left!) out there in another year or so.

[9000]

adding foreign cinema (http://www.foreigncinema.com/) to the sf list.

[vesper]

follow that up by taking a walk over to tartine (http://www.tartinebakery.com/).

[9000]

followed by bar tartine (http://bartartine.com/) for dinner the next night. surprised i forgot to mention that one.

[vesper]

okay, so what in the hell do i do in la jolla (or san diego generally)? i'm at a conference at UCSD for a couple days and will largely remain on foot, so my options are limited. i guess i should at least walk to the beach, although i don't think it'll get warm enough to swim or sunbathe. do i just get drunk in the hotel hot tub every night??

[pabost]

The beach in La Jolla (specifically, Blacks Beach) is one of my favorites and is great for walking or, if you have the balls (lack thereof?), a quick dip. There's a little bar on UCSD's campus called Che Cafe which occasionally has good shows. If you golf, you should go to Torrey Pines, one of the best public golf courses in the nation.

[vesper]

ah, i just missed your post, pabost. (in fact, i think i was on my return flight when you posted it.) at any rate, i walked around for a while on my last day there. i never got to the beach itself b/c every road seemed to run into someone's property. well, and, b/c i was on foot w/ a limited amount of time, i didn't have the time or energy to figure out its winding and insanely hilly roads. i did pass by che cafe on my walk. UCSD was on spring break, though, so i don't think it was open or had much going on while i was there.

san diego is kinda...weird, i think. if i'd had a car, i think i would've been able to do a bit more, but oh well. UCSD's campus is one of the biggest i've ever been on.