• Cliff House

    11Jul
    Categories: Architecture, Cocktails, Dinner, Food, Lunch, Photo Opp, Relax, Tourist Activity, View Click Here to Leave a Comment
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    Cliff House Sunset View

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    The Bar

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    Front

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    Side

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    Main Dining Room

    I’ve been going to the Cliff House for over 60 years. Wow … I’m old!!! But I digress.

    I grew up in Pacific Grove, on the Monterey Peninsula, and I recall my parents getting dressed up to go to “the city”. Mom would wear gloves and a hat and Dad wore a tie, hat and smoked a pipe. They were a smart couple (and still are, actually).

    We’d visit the San Francisco Zoo (originally named Fleishhacker Zoo), Golden Gate Park, do some downtown shopping at Gumps or City of Paris (now the Neiman-Marcus store … with the beautiful stained glass ceiling that’s patterned after Galeries Lafayette in Paris). Sometimes we’d come for the day or maybe spend the night; so we’d have two days to enjoy the sites. Over the years, we did it all, and often had a late lunch at the Cliff House before driving back home down Highway 1.

    The Cliff House I recall was beautiful as a kid, but over the years had become more and more worn and just plain tired. In 2004, it was totally rebuilt for the 5th or 6th time. Even though the current version is very modern bent, it’s still beautiful in a new, clean and opened way. It’s still a great spot to enjoy a meal, a snack, or a drink. I think the best time to go is late afternoon or early evening. Sunsets are beautiful, but it’s a joy even on a cold foggy day. The new design is opened and lets everyone get a first class view through the big expansive windows to the west.

    If you’d like to see a couple virtual reality photos, click here.

    I don’t have any old photos of the Cliff House, but they’re easy to find … just do a search and click on images, or click on this link to the Cliff House Web site. You’ll see that it’s been rebuilt several times and each time, I think it’s gotten better, although, the Victorian version might still be a stunning site on the cliffs overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean. I can imagine sitting there, sipping a bowl of clam chowder, watching the sun sink slowly into the horizon.

    For more info about the Cliff House, click here.


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  • Cartoon Art Museum

    06Jun
    Categories: Art, Cheap Fun, Culture, Fun, Lunch, Museum, SOMA, Tourist Activity Click Here to Leave a Comment

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    I’ve passed by this clever museum too many times … waiting for the right time. I work near there; so it’s close and easily put off. Darn. I wish I’d gone in long ago. It’s filled with historical cartoons that have been enjoyed over the years, as well as featured cartoons and artists which change; so check the Web site for details: www.cartoonart.org. When you visit the museum, be sure to watch the video – a collection of variations of style and ages. It’s a little bonus and a lot of fun. Naturally, there’s no photography inside the museum. It’s right downtown and easy to find … only a block off Market Street (see the map below).

    Click on this link for more info about the Cartoon Art Museum.

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  • Bay To Breakers – The 99th Annual

    17May
    Categories: Event, Free Fun, Fun, Odd, Outdoor, People Watching, Photo Opp, Silly, Tourist Activity Comments: 2

    Well, some things never change and some things continue to change, like the Bay To Breakers annual run/walk/dance/crawl from Downtown San Francisco (a few blocks from the bay) to the Pacific Ocean. It’s a very doable distance for most people and I think everyone should do it at least once, in the name of tradition. There are serious runners, serious walkers, causes, corporate groups, people who just want to be crazy, people who just like to drink, naked people, and on and on. You will see EVERY type of person you can imagine. You’ll also see a collection of costuming – inventive, funny, tongue-in-cheek, stupid and non-existent. It’s a wild and crazy event that reflects the true diversity of our wonderful city. Watch and enjoy it all.

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