SFO - Other Activities?

[Studley]

Just to jog your memories, in no particular order, here are the highest-scoring results from Poll #4, which asked about what we wanted to do in addition to the dinner on 9/7.

1. Meet up in a hotel lobby on Friday evening and go out to the clubs. If smaller groups of individuals wanted to do this, they could.

2. Meet up somewhere Saturday morning, go sightseeing, and have lunch.

3. Find a karaoke place we can all go to and have an AirlineCrew karaoke competition.

4. Go out to the clubs on Saturday as a group.

5. Have a rousing game of "Truth or Dare" in a hotel room.

Personally, here are my thoughts:

- I like the club idea on Friday, this could also be the karaoke night. Just where will we want to go?

- I would definitely be interested in sightseeing - a cable car ride and/or a boat tour around the Bay, to Alcatraz, etc.

- I think we're going to have a lot of fun at the dinner on Saturday, and we will probably not want to go anywhere else - I just feel like that decision will be made spontaneously. We should be close enough to some clubs if we do decide to go to them.

- Truth or Dare, and/or any poker games (strip or otherwise images/icons/wink.gif ) in a hotel room will probably be a spontaneous decision by the players involved. Also, there's talk of another "party" for a certain reptile and her master. images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/wink.gif images/icons/wink.gif

So, does anyone want to get anything organized?

[jetstewus]

I have often taken visitors on the Blue and Gold fleet's Bay Tour. Tickets are purchased at pier 39 and are about $17.00. The ride is about an hour and there is a recorded narration (kind of annoying, actually but informative.) The boat (quite large) goes along the shore past the Marina and then out under the Golden Gate Bridge. There are some awesome photo opportunities. Almost everyone I have taken enjoys it. If you go be sure to look for sea lions basking on top of the water. It then turns around and goes toward Angel Island and then skirts around Alcatraz before returning to the pier. They have a small bar onboard. Sometimes there is quite a wait in the summertime for tickets. I think Alcatraz is a little cheaper but the boat only goes directly to Alcatraz and back. There are also ferries over to Sausalito (sp.?) and Tiburon which are kind of cool little communities on the other side of the bay.

There is great shopping closer to Market Street with all the big stores represented. There is a Virgin Megastore, a huge Old Navy, Macy's and lots of others.

There are lots of bars around Firewood but they are all gay bars. Noe Valley isn't too far away and there may be some "straighter" pubs on or near 24th St. for those who don't want to hang in the gayborhood. Also, the train is right there if people wanted to head back into the downtown area. If Chevy's on Van Ness is the winner then I think there are a few gay bars and several straight bars nearby. The neighborhood isn't as nice and I don't know of any places to go specifically. I'm not sure about any true dance clubs unless people want to venture into the South of Market area. SOMA.

As for lunch on Saturday: If you don't mind spending a little cash I recommend McCormicks at Ghiradelli Square. It's very nice and has great food and looks out over the bay. Afterwards you can go to the Ghiradelli Ice Cream shop and have a towering Hot Fudge Sundae! You can catch the cable car near here as well but be prepared to wait in line for a while. You can also walk along the water around Fort Mason which leads right into the Marina district. Union Street (I think it's Union) has lots of "yuppie" type shops and restaurants.

North Beach is also accessible with it's many Italian restaurants but there are so many I don't know which ones are good. The Stinking Rose is pretty popular, though.

China Town can be fun, too, with all it's stores. Iron and clay teapots are my favorite bargain there! Eating down there can be a gamble IMO.

With the exception of the boat rides and a few good restaurants, Fishermans Wharf is typically viewed as a tourist trap so I wouldn't waste too much time walking up and down. Most of the shops just sell crap.

Of course I'm up for T or D. I always win! images/icons/tongue.gif I hope this info helps!

[Studley]

Cool! Thanks for the information!

I also found a few links that I'll post.

The sea lions, are those the ones that took over a pier several years ago, and made national headlines?

[jetstewus]

The sea lions supposedly showed up shortly after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. I'm not sure if they know why. They now bask on floating platforms right where the boats come in and leave. Usually you can see some out in the bay from the boats. It's kind of cool.

[JetBoy76]

True or Dare in my room 4ever!!! images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif
HAPPY FLYING graemlins/windsock_smilie.gif

[Jessica]

I'm always up for a good dare! graemlins/pilot_smilie.gif

[Studley]

Well, the plot thickens. So far, I'm planning to take a boat ride around the bay on Saturday. I'll probably go as early as possible, so I won't be hindered at getting back to make any last-minute changes for the dinner.

http://www.blueandgoldfleet.com/bcruisesc.htm

Truth or Dare is a very good proposition, considering the group that's going to be there. images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/wink.gif

[skygoddess51]

Just a little input about the Stinking Rose....recently some friends of mine had dinner there and said it was overpriced and not that good. Also must call well in advance for reservations.

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Just 'cause I'm chained to the fence, don't mean I can't bark at the cars!

[Studley]

I've given this area a bit more thought.

At this point, I think leaving the weekend free-flowing and up to the individuals as far as what they want to do (and who they want to do it with images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/wink.gif ), with the dinner being the central event on Saturday, is going to be our best bet. images/icons/cool.gif images/icons/smile.gif

I'm still going on the boat ride Saturday morning. And Traveler, you mentioned in a prior "scouting report" about a place near your crew hotel, where there are quesadillas and beer? Sounds like lunch to me.

Hey, this can even be a Moderator Meeting. images/icons/smile.gif

[westexan]

For the best burritos in the world try Pancho Villas on 24 st (near Castro St). More upscale but worth it is Leticias for devine gay upscale Mexican (Market St. near Church St). Sounds like you're a "mixed crew", so I recommend Twenty Tank Brewery for late night drinking. Its in SOMA district on 10th or 11 st. They probably have live jazz on Saturday night but its very casual and mixed gay-straight. Have fun. Wish I could come.

[traveler]

I'm not getting into SFO till 4 PM, Studley.
Might be a bit late for lunch.
Leave again Sunday at 1 PM ...
... an early lunch might work there .. but you might still be on the floor. images/icons/wink.gif images/icons/cool.gif

[Studley]

What time are you thinking about? I don't fly out until 18:00. And if I'm not on the floor, I'm going to Baker Beach for the 9/11 memorial.

Maybe we can head out there, then have an early lunch.

[Studley]

So far, here's a list of things other than the dinner meeting.

Friday, 9/6:

Bay Cruise - 18:00, from Pier 39.

Saturday, 9/7:

"The JetBoy Workout" - 10:00, at an undetermined gym location.

"The Drink Of Courage" - 13:00, at the bar in the SFO Hilton. Precedes "The Ripping of the Kitties".

"The Ripping of the Kitties" - 14:45, at an unnamed location. "The Carrying Home of the Kitties" will take place after the ripping. images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/wink.gif

Sunday, 9/8:

9/11 Memorial - 09:00, Baker Beach. Maybe an early lunch with Traveler. Dependent on whether or not we're still on the floor after Saturday night. images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/wink.gif images/icons/wink.gif

[Studley]

Just an update from my room, where Bridget, mystere, JetBoy, aaordfa, and I are getting ready to head to the gym, two floors under my room:

We had a great breakfast on the Executive Level (one of the perks I have that I talked about the other day). Then we walked around a few blocks outside of the hotel, and did some shopping.

"The Ripping of the Kitties" is cancelled.

We'll do lunch right after the workout.

We're still go for the dinner, where we'll meet everybody else. images/icons/smile.gif