March 2018
What was supposed to be a 5 day trip to Yosemite, San Francisco and Palo Alto was derailed by a nor’easter that stranded me in Philly for a weekend. Although not planned, the delay was still welcome. We couldn’t hike Yosemite which was unfortunate since I had the hiking bug but it was jam-packed nonetheless.
My uncle picked us up from the airport and we headed to his place in Inner Mission. The area is hip, trendy and what I would consider the Brooklyn of SF. We ate at a place around the corner called “flour + water”. 10/10 recommend the Osso Bucco starter. Since I’m lactose intolerant, I couldn’t eat any of the amazing pasta and pizza they are obviously known for.
He lives in the most amazing loft made out of an old factory. Exposed brick, minimalist design that is bright yet cozy due to the exposed original brick. High ceilings, towering bookshelves, beautiful piano-kind of the high-end version of a Brooklyn shoebox.
The main reason I was in the golden state was to visit potential grad schools. This gave me the opportunity to visit various parts in the Bay Area.
I urge you to visit these campuses even if you’re not a student! They are sprawling little cities in themselves.
- UCSF Mission Bay
I was visiting the medical campus and didn’t get a chance to visit the main campus more west but if you do venture over here-visit SOMA Street food park. I got a poke bowl and smoothie bowl.
Tip: Sit on the turf against the bus instead of on top! Still super relaxing and feels like you’re sprawled out having a picnic.
The rest of the area is under a lot of construction and very up and coming. The new warriors stadium is being built right now! Visit in a few years..
- UC Berkeley
A nice excuse to hop across the Bay. Rode the BART quite easily! I had trouble understanding the machines but do yourself a favor and venture over. It’s being gentrified at an increasingly fast pace. It’s incredible to see the contrast in old and new. I wish I had a chance to explore Oakland more than from the BART window. The Berkeley campus is exactly what you imagine when you think of an American State college campus. It’s green, Sprawls for what seems like miles and has grand buildings you can imagine walking the steps of. It’s sunny and beautiful and there is tons of city around it to wander.
- Stanford
Palo Alto is incredible. We drove over there but holy moly it really is as centered around computer science and the tech industry as you think. But it is beautiful. It has the palm trees and sunshine plus historic architecture that looks like it belongs on an ivy campus in the northeast. Huge fan-wander. The library and church are gorgeous.
Good food in San Francisco is easy to come by. I’ll eventually stop being lazy and hunt down the names of the places I ate but they were hole-in-the-wall local-cash only type places but on that note I recommend stopping by anywhere. Don’t bother reading yelp. I promise if you hop in somewhere local it will not disappoint.
However, around Union Square is Bar 587 a cool place we found by the hotel we were in for a few nights. It’s a build-your own cocktail place where you pick the spirit and describe your tastes and the on-site bartenders craft personalized cocktails. Note-to-self: go back.
It was a block from the boutique-y Andrew’s hotel with the old vintage charm of an inn from the twenties perhaps? Everything from the walls to the carpets with a faded off-beige tint of what used to be rich colour and grandeur. Brass furniture with signs of use yet beautiful. The lobby has an old grandfather clock and plush intricately-made furniture. There’s a dark wood check-in counter with a brass bell and a restored elevator with the door you needed to slide closed.
Piers
Go to Pier 1 and see the Ferry Building that houses the “every-city-has-one” market, skip most of pier 39 except seeing the sea lions on the northern side! Pier 24 has a great photography gallery.
Also go see Alcatraz! Worth it.
Golden Gate and Bay Bridges
Best views of the Golden Gate are from below it near what used to be a military base. Also from Lands End.
Bay bridge from the Oakland side is probably better but I didn’t get a chance. But from the Ferry Building is hackin cool! At night they light up the bridge with patterns of flickering lights.
SF MOMA
Just go-and leave tons of time.
I was thiiiiiiis close to spending the next year out there but behold I’ll be on the opposite coast next year. I really fell in love with that city in those few days and I can’t wait to go back.
COURTSNEXTSTOP 