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Can you get a taxi in San Francisco?

October 10th, 2011 · Limousine, Taxi

Fact: The average wait time for a taxi in San Francisco is approximately ten minutes, however over half of cabs never arrive. (Source: SFMTA) During weekend nights, only 25% of cabs that are dispatched arrive at all.

San Francisco has a multiple issues in its taxi / cab industry that will make it difficult at many times for you to call for a cab and get it in a reasonable amount of time.   Numerous complaints are found across the internet that stem from the business model of taxis in San FranciscoSan Francisco Taxis

  • There is a fixed / limited supply of taxis in San Francisco, limited by license or “medallions” sold by the City to the taxi cab companies.  This limits the supply.
  • Demand for cabs is “spiky”, it varies wildly depending on the time of day and weather.
  • Cab companies are actually in a business model of serving cab drivers – who they rent to—not taxi customers.  Unlike a pizza business, taking care of the customer doesn’t matter.  The taxi company needs to keep its drivers filled with fares and running, to maximize their daily “rental” price of the cab to the drivers.
  • You will find the dispatch phone operators to be particularly poor.  You can be placed on hold for a long time, hung up on, or be promised a cab that never arrives.  If you are in a busy area, you should try waiting for the cab outside, it’s often a more efficient route.

San Francisco Car Service
Because of the issues of limited supply and wildly varying demand for taxis in San Francisco, a number of both legal and illegal car services have sprung up to meet the demand.  Although private car services are at often higher prices, they offer excellent service and accountability to their customers.  It’s a great example of how the free market solves the business issue of the taxi industry by developing a market-based higher level of service.   The popular iPhone / Android app, Uber is known for its ability to obtain car service with your smartphone and avoid conversations with busy dispatch operators.  There are numerous stories of great, efficient service with both Uber and private car services.

If you need a taxi in San Francisco, don’t expect prompt or great service.  There is just too many people calling for cabs in the 49 square mile city, and too few cabs to serve them.  If you have the money, consider a private car service to get the service or timeliness you need to make an appointment.

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Crazy Cheap Bus Express: San Francisco to Los Angeles

October 10th, 2011 · Airport Shuttles, Limousine, Transportation, Uncategorized

Are you going between San Francisco and Los Angeles and need to cut your costs drastically to stay on a budget?

Are you somewhat fearful of air travel and prefer to stay on the ground?

Don’t want the hassle of going to the airport, parking and getting through the time-consuming and intrusive security lines? Want to try something different?

Then perhaps the California Shuttle Bus is something that you might want to consider for your next trip to/from San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Bus California

The California Shuttle Bus is a shuttle bus service that operates 7 days a week and departs from both San Francisco and Los Angeles at 1pm and midnight. Pick up starts at 11:45am for the 1pm departure and 11:15 pm for the midnight departure. There are 5 different pick-up and drop-off locations in both San Francisco and Los Angeles. The pick-up/drop-off locations are all in safe areas, mostly train stations or in front of hotels. Additionally, some of the hotel pick-up/drop-off locations have rental car agencies.

The California Shuttle Bus fares average between $30 and $40 each way depending on how far in advance you book your trip which is cheaper than the cost of gas to drive there yourself with the extremely high gas prices these days. Although the bus is not the fastest option, considering it is about a 7+ hour drive vs. a 1 hour flight, California Shuttle is great if you are on a budget and have time to spare. Keep in mind, your reservation is non-refundable, and there is a $10 handling charge to change the date of your trip, so it is important that you have a firm date set.

Also, this may not be the best option for last minute travelers. I tried to book a shuttle only a week in advance, for a Saturday departure and there were no open seats available. I then tried for a Sunday departure, and that was full as well. It is also more expensive to ride on the weekends. I got a quote for a Saturday to Saturday trip and it was $80 round trip. However, when I booked my trip a month in advance for Monday to Monday it was only $65 round trip. To get the most out of California Shuttle Bus, you should book your trip at least a couple weeks in advance and ride on a weekday.  The prices however can be much less expensive than flights between L.A. and San Francisco, which average around $250 – $300.  The bus is a city-to-city route, which differs from the airports in outlying areas.  You can expect airport shuttle or taxi costs of at least $20 to-and-from each of the airports, so an additional $80 on top of the $250-$300 for the airfare.  In terms of cost alone — depending on how much you value your time, the bus can be a large cost savings.  There can also be time savings based on the airport “early arrival” required to handle TSA security scans and potential patdowns — none of which is required for the bus.

When riding the California Shuttle bus the other riders that you will see are typically international visitors on a budget, value-oriented tourists and younger people. Many students take the California Shuttle Bus because it is safe and a cheap travel option. You can read some detailed reviews of riders experience on the “California Express Bus” here.

Keep in mind that when you travel on any bus (much like flying) departure times, traffic delays and mechanical problems can all be a factor in the actual driving time to/from San Francisco and Los Angeles, and these problems are completely out of your control! So beware that you could experience some delays and frustrations with the California Shuttle Bus. However for the low price and convenient pickup/drop off locations – this might be the right travel option for you between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

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Halloween in San Francisco | Best Things to Do

October 6th, 2011 · Uncategorized

San Francisco is a wild place filled with creative people. On any given day you might see folks in costume on the street for a festival, event or party. This fun-loving celebration of imagination peaks on Halloween. Whether you want to go to a family-friendly event during the day, enjoy a spooky walking tour in the evening or get all dolled up for a romantic costumed affair at night, San Francisco will have something that’s perfect for your Halloween.

Halloween San Francisco

 Haunted San Francisco Walking Tours

 

San Francisco is a city that is rich with dramatic history. Many people believe that the area is haunted. All throughout the year, you can take tours of hotels and neighborhoods where ghosts have been reported. What better time of year to do that, though, than during the spooky week of Halloween?

 

Here are some of the best haunted tours in San Francisco:

 

 

San Francisco’s Halloween with Kids
Halloween San Francisco Kids
 

San Francisco is definitely a risqué city with many activities that are designed for adults but it can also be a super kid-friendly place especially on great holidays like Halloween. Museums, hotels and other hot spots have great all ages events to enjoy. Here are some of the top things to do with kids for Halloween in San Francisco:

 

  • SuperNatural Halloween Party at California Academy of Sciences. This awesome science museum is hosting special creepy events throughout Halloween weekend with an all-ages party on October 29th. The party will include a costume contest, a pumpkin carving contest and the ickiest animals in the Academy’s collection.
  • Halloween Haunts and Happenings at The Exploratorium. The city’s other major science museum is also featuring Halloween-themed events with an October 30th event. Activities range from tarantula demos to decorating sugar skulls.
  • Dog Costume Fashion Show. Kids will get a kick out of seeing dogs dressed up in Halloween costumes at this free outdoor event. It’s located in the courtyard next to the Argonaut Hotel and donations are accepted to benefits the SF SPCA.
  • Boo at the Zoo. The San Francisco Zoo hosts a popular annual event with special events and animal demos. Kids are welcome to come in costume although rubber masks are prohibited. Trick-or-treating is a key feature of this event.
  • Alcatraz. A trip to Alcatraz is always a little bit spooky. Visitors who don’t have time to fit in a lot of different activities can kill two birds with one stone by enjoying this popular but creepy tourist attraction.
  • 32nd Annual Spiral Dance. Do you believe in the spiritual power of Halloween and want to share that with your kids through ritual? The Reclaiming Community’s ritual dance at Kezar Pavilion in Golden Gate Park is filled with music, art, poetry and dance.

 

Where the Adults Play on Halloween

 

One of the things that many people love about San Francisco is that there are lots of opportunities for creative, artistic, imaginative adults to play. Halloween is no exception. Here are some top choice activities for adults this Halloween season:

 

  • Zombie NightLife at California Academy of Sciences. The science center is open late on the Thursday before Halloween for a 21+ party that’s all zombie. Zombie costumes, the science of zombies and a zombie prom are key features.
  • Shocktoberfest. Looking for an activity that is entertaining but doesn’t require you to dress up yourself? Go check out this great theater performance put on by the Thrillpeddlers, an edgy, out-of-the-box freak show performance for adults only.
  • Live 105’s 3rd Annual Subsonic Halloween Ball at The Regency. If you’re looking for a great costumed dance party on Halloween night then this is one of the top selections in the city.
  • Ghost Ship IV: The Afterlife. You’ll have to trek over to Treasure Island for this big event but it should be worth the drive if you’re interested in the creative and imaginative aspect of Halloween. Think Burning Man meets food truck festival with a Halloween twist.

 

These are your top choices for Halloween events in San Francisco. However, it should be noted that a majority of clubs, museums and galleries in the city host some type of special event on Halloween or in the days leading up to Halloween. If there is a particular spot you want to visit, check to see if they’re offering something special for Halloween.

 

Some Transportation Tips for Halloween

 

It’s important to have a great time for Halloween weekend, but it’s also important to be safe and prepared. Know what you’re going to do for transportation before you leave for the night. Some tips:

 

  • Free taxi cab rides from Luxor Cab. Berg Injury Lawyers has a program called Safe and Sober that helps people in San Francisco get free cab rides home on Halloween. From 10 pm on Monday until 4 am on Tuesday, just call the cab company and let them know that Berg will pay the bill. Rides must be in San Francisco only.
  • BART and MUNI. Check with the public transit agency that you’ll be using to find out if they’re altering their schedules. Typically MUNI does not have any schedule changes for Halloween. BART has been known to stop running early but also to run through the night.

 

Another smart option is to plan your Halloween weekend in advance and then book a reservation at a San Francisco hotel near your event. Then you can just walk back to your room when you’re done with your Halloween adventures.

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Breakfast at the Ferry Building Farmer’s Market

October 3rd, 2011 · Restaurants

Locals and visitors flock to the Ferry Building Farmer’s Market on Saturdays because of the hive of activity, the rainbow of fresh local produce, and a vibrant waterfront scene. But for a visitor, it’s hard to take advantage of the agricultural bounty that exudes at every stand. Not to worry! Breakfast at the market provides a way to enjoy the market offerings from local restaurants and farmers. Try these four breakfast items to get a taste of the market and start a San Francisco day.

Pastries
Ferry Building Breakfast
Head to Della Fattoria and sample the delectable and traditional bakery. Get there early to have the unique almond polenta or homemade granola breakfast muffins. For those craving a little bit of savory in the morning, try the pastries at Les Elements Patisserie. This is not your typical pastry stand, but a creative take on the traditional breakfast pastry. Try an Asian-inspired beignet stuffed with rhubarb and ginger (it’s a gourmet jelly donut). Or pick up a scone infused with figs, blue cheese, and honey.  If you’re lucky, there may be cake available – like the Darjeeling tea cake with blackberry currant jam.

The Breakfast Sandwich
Ferry Building Restaurants
A portable and hearty breakfast awaits with two stands selling breakfast sandwiches. Near Pier 4, try the egg sandwich with applewood-smoked bacon from Rosa Pistola. The all-natural bacon is thick and flavorful on toasted bread. Leave room for the grilled potatoes cooked with summer squash, red peppers, and onions served with it. Rose Pistola also offers a full breakfast menu that includes a mountainous brioche French toast capped by pile of cinnamon crème. Further from the actual Ferry Building is 4505 Meats, home of a sausage patty and egg breakfast sandwich. Patrons enjoy the homemade local sausage and runny over-easy egg served on a hamburger bun with melted Gruyere cheese.

A Different Take on Fruit
Ferry Building Fruits
There’s fruit aplenty at the market for any breakfast lover wanting a healthier choice. Depending on the season, fruit lovers will have no problem finding the juicy plum, crunchy apple, or creamy strawberry. Of course, the market offers a little something extra. Try sorbet that tastes exactly like the fruit in it at Scream Sorbet and fresh Mexican juices at Primavera. The sorbets are light, creamy and taste oh-my-god-just-like-fruit. In season, fresh-picked taste of Pink Pearl Apple fully delights. Go a little richer by indulging in the fresh and rich Orange Chocolate flavor. The fruit creativity continues at Primavera with juices like watermelon mint, pineapple cucumber, and muskmelon. Primavera is also another favorite breakfast place that serves a very popular chilaquiles verdes – breakfast nachos with fluffy, buttery eggs.

Coffee
Ferry Building Cafe
Local favorite Blue-Bottle Coffee is a strong accompaniment to any breakfast dish. The wait is worth it for fresh-roasted coffee dripped individually into each cup.

There are over 40 stands at the Farmer’s Market so be sure to visit the information booth right beneath the clock tower and grab a map. Starting the day with breakfast at the Ferry Building Farmer’s Market with the locally sourced food means enough energy to take a ferry ride for a day trip to Sausalito or ride the historic cable cars down Market Street.

By Kristin Zibell, editor and author of travel blog Takeyourbigtrip.com. After two years of traveling around the world, she is currently traveling locally in the city of San Francisco. All photos copyright by 2011 by Kristin Zibell.

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Top 5 San Francisco Fleet Week Events

September 30th, 2011 · Activities, Fleet Week

This year San Francisco’s Fleet Week is October 6-10, 2011 and is extra special this year because Fleet Week is celebrating the Centennial of Naval Aviation! Fleet Week is held annually in San Francisco to honor the armed forces and is always a favorite among locals and tourists. There are numerous events that go on throughout Fleet Week, but here are the ones that you do not want to miss:
Fleet Week San Francisco
1. The main attraction of Fleet Week is definitely the Blue Angels Air show, which is held Saturday, Oct. 8th and Sunday Oct. 9th, at 3-4pm. It is a spectacular show of arial stunts performed by the Navy’s Blue Angels Team, and it’s free! It is a must-see event that you can watch with friends and family over a picnic at the park. The main viewing areas are the Marina Green Park and Fisherman’s Wharf, but the Blue Angels can be seen and heard all along the coast of San Francisco, including viewing on the Marin County coastline. Bring a jacket because you never know how cold it will be in San Francisco, and if you have sensitive hearing you should consider earplugs because it can get very loud!

2. The Italian Heritage Parade is another great, free event put on during Fleet Week. Even if you aren’t Italian it is still one of the best events of the year in San Francisco. There will be plenty of excitement with colorful parade floats, Italian music, and artists lining the streets. Of course there will be plenty of Italian food and wine specials at many of the restaurants in North Beach. The parade starts at 12:30 on Sunday, Oct. 9th at the foot of Jefferson and Stockton, goes through North Beach on Columbus Ave, and ends in Washington Square.

3. The parade of US Navy ships begins at 11am on Saturday, Oct. 8th under the Golden Gate Bridge and continues along the San Francisco waterfront. The parade is amazing and fun to watch, but the best part comes after the parade. You can take free tours of many of the different US and Canadian Navy ships. The tours are led by the ship’s crew members and are held at Piers 27, 30, 32. How often do you get the chance to go aboard a Navy ship?

4. If you love wine and food be sure to check out Artisan Wine-Blue Angels-Bacon Buzz 2011 hosted by the Treasure Island Winery & Tasting Room. General Admission is as low as $6, which is a steal considering you get to sample over 7 hand-crafted wines, while the Blue Angels fly directly over the parking lot. In addition to the fine wine and Blue Angels, if you get hungry The Mobile Gourmet is providing the Bacon Bacon food truck and Speedy Panini, both San Francisco favorites. There will be an array of pork belly sandwiches, chocolate covered bacon, and delicious Italian sandwiches.

5. Another awesome event is the 2nd Annual Fleet Week High School Band Challenge at the Golden Gate Park band shell on Oct. 10th from 10am-4pm. There will be six high school bands from all over the bay area competing for the grand prize of $25,000. After the high school bands play, the 1st Marine Division band will play, and then for the grande finale all of the bands will come together to play “Stars and Stripes Forever”. This event is great because it is supporting local students and lots of great band music!

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City Pass San Francisco – Is It Worth the Money?

September 27th, 2011 · Activities

As most of us know from experience, traveling to a new city and visiting the top tourist attractions can be expensive and hard to plan on your own.

CityPass is a way for travelers to save money while touring various cities across the US.  San Francisco CityPASS offers unlimited muni and cable car rides as well as admission to five of San Francisco’s top sight seeing attractions.  City PASS provides you with an easy way to organize your trip to make sure you don’t miss the must see hot spots in San Francisco.

However, the big question is- Is the San Francisco CityPASS worth the money?
Fishermans Wharf San Francisco
The San Francisco CityPASS is priced at $69.00 for adults and $39.00 for children ages 5-12. The attractions offered in the CityPASS are good for 9 days from the first day of use, and the muni pass is only good for 7 days. You also get to skip to the front of the line on most attractions. CityPASS claims that you will be saving 48% on full fare admissions, but that statistic is only true if you use the CityPASS to its full potential. If you use the public transportation and go to all 5 of the available attractions, then the CityPASS is a great deal.   However some people simply do not have enough time to visit all of the attractions that are included with the CityPASS.  Others may have a change of plans or find something better to do on their vacation.

Many travelers don’t end up using the muni bus pass because they tend to be uncomfortable riding the muni. This is mostly because schedules can be confusing, and there tends to be a lot of “interesting” riders.   Also, the cable car is mostly used for entertainment and CityPASS is not valid for BART, the Bay Area’s subway system, so the transportation aspect of the CityPASS does not have much value for many travelers.

In addition to the unlimited cable car rides and muni pass, the available attractions for SF CityPASS are:

  1. California Academy of Sciences
  2. Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise (with optional Alcatraz Tour)
  3. Aquarium of the Bay
  4. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
  5. De Young Museum OR Exploratorium

All of the attractions offered are popular San Francisco tourist attractions that many SF travelers would typically visit. The California Academy of Sciences, the Aquarium of the Bay and the Exploratorium are all very fun and interesting places, especially great if you are traveling with kids.  However, if you are staying for a longer period of time and are adventurous, I would recommend taking a side trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium rather than the Aquarium of the Bay.

Another attraction available through City pass is the Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise. It is a great way to see the San Francisco Bay and Pier 39, but bring a jacket because it is usually windy and cold on the bay even if it is a warm day in San Francisco. However, most travelers would prefer to see Alcatraz to the San Francisco Bay cruise. Many people want to see the San Francisco Bay and take a boat ride, but you get to take a boat to Alcatraz, so many people see the Alcatraz tour as a bonus deal. CityPASS does have an option to replace the Bay Cruise with an Alcatraz Island tour, however the switch is not guaranteed.  It is very hard to get Alcatraz tickets unless they are purchased weeks, if not months in advance, so this option to switch attractions is not easy.  The only way to make this switch is to call far in advance, request the exchange, and purchase the CityPASS from the Alcatraz tours.  The number to call is 415-981-7625 (ROCK). This option to replace the Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise with the Alcatraz Island tour is not a sure thing by any means.

CityPASS is great for travelers who are organized and like to prepay and preplan every detail of their trip. If you like to follow schedules then CityPASS would be a great option for you. Also, you pay for the pass before you arrive in San Francisco, which is nice because then you don’t feel like you are spending money during your trip.

I know from personal experience that one of the best things about the CityPASS is that it somewhat forces you to plan your days and visit the sites, as compared to “maybe” going and then never getting to the museum, etc.  When I went to NYC with my family, we bought a CityPASS and literally “ran” from one site to the next to use up our pass.  Without it, we probably would have ended up in a sports bar watching baseball or going shopping on 5th Ave.

However what if you don’t want to go to all of the available attractions? Lets say you only have time or are only interested in a few of the attractions, and you do not end up using the muni pass. The question is – Is the CityPASS still a good deal?

If you could only choose 3 attractions in addition to riding the cable cars, which attractions do you choose?  My favorites would be:

1. The California Academy of the Sciences because it is a good balance of historical learning and entertainment. There is also the Steinhart Aquarium located in the California Academy of the Sciences, and many travelers believe that the Steinhart Aquarium is as good as, if not better than the Aquarium of the Bay.

2. The Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise – even if you’re unable to switch the Bay Cruise for the Alcatraz tour, I still recommend that you go on the Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise because it is a beautiful tour, most people want to see the city of San Francisco from the water. Also, this cruise is conveniently located at Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco’s most popular destination, so since you will most likely be visiting Fisherman’s Wharf at some point on your trip, you can take the bay cruise while you are at the Wharf.

3. The SFMOMA because it is an incredible art museum, and for many people it is on the top of their list of attractions to see.

If you choose to only go to these three attractions and go on one cable car ride, will you have saved money? The California Academy of Sciences cost $29.95; the Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise cost $25.00; the SFMOMA costs $18.00, and the cable car costs $6.00 for one ride. The total cost is $78.95, so yes in this case the CityPASS is worth the money, for you are saving $9.95. However, these attractions happen to be some of the more expensive available attractions, so really it all comes down to which attractions interest you and how much time you have to visit them.

In conclusion, you have to know what kind of traveler you are. Are you traveling to San Francisco to go to museums and learn the history and see the beauty of San Francisco? Or are you the spontaneous traveler who wants to explore the streets and neighborhoods of San Francisco and find the best local restaurants, shops, etc. If you enjoy pre-planned trips and want to hit all of the tourist spots then the CityPASS is a great option for you. If you can’t follow a schedule and you are not interested in some of the attractions then you probably won’t use the CityPASS to its full potential, and it would not be worth your money.

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Keeping Kids Happy on Long Airplane Flights

September 18th, 2011 · Travel News, Traveling with Kids

travel with kidsAs both a father and frequent traveler, it’s fun to share the magic of travel with our children – and a challenge to keep them happy and amused. Having experienced the spectrum from sleeping children on a flight cross-country to screaming children on a flight cross-continent, I am always searching for ways to keep kids entertained without “plugging them in” to a variety of electronic devices. Our kids love the idea of travel, but like most adults they enjoy most the part “when we get there”. I’ve compiled a list of the ways that our kids love to keep busy on airplane flights, with an emphasis on creativity and education. A few electronic items are included.

1.) Mini Board Games: Game makers today offer a wide variety of games that can easily be enjoyed on a flight. These include the games of our youth such as Scrabble, Cribbage, Checkers, Backgammon, Yahtzee, and Uno. It’s a great way to get to know your child better and challenge their mind. Disadvantages of this plan can be the tiny pieces which you may be searching for under the seat after a turbulent section.

2.) Sticker Sets: New from the boomers’ youth, kids can use stickers (versus coloring books) to design amazing dioramas and even some that are scratch-and-sniff. By taking a variety of different figures of animals, shapes, colors, and vehicles — kids can build their own story in a detailed background word. We have tried the stickers
sets from Peaceable Kingdom as a good value (under $5 per set), they provide a nice variety of stickers without breaking the bank. These sticker sets have choices including dinosaurs, puppies, sparkly critters, robots, and many more. Disadvantage of sticker sets can be the cost and short term of use if your kids is a “quick sticker setter”. Our kids really enjoyed the sticker sets and put together some very creative pictures to share with family.

3.) We can’t leave out the Nintendo DS: With the prices of these kid-friendly devices dropping dramatically in competition with the iPhone, Android phone games, and iPod Touch — Nintendo has chosen to specialize. There are great sets of games that are directly designed for adults and kids to build up brain power with intellectual challenges. Nintendo DS still offers the classic Mario and Donkey Kong games, but don’t overlook the wide set of games that are intellectually challenging for the Nintendo Platform. Two of our current favorites are Puzzler World and Scribblenauts. Our kids love Scribblenauts which allow kids to write out words that drive the character’s actions. Let’s Draw is also a great way for kids to express their creativity and store their best drawings to share.

Whether you are flying to San Francisco or Sao Paulo with your family, keeping kids entertained is a top priority to keep your sanity and those around you. We hope these suggestions help you to have a great next trip, please share your favorites with our community too!

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Union Square History – San Francisco

September 1st, 2011 · Union Square

union square san franciscoSan Francisco’s Union Square is a shopping mecca for luxury items and international goods from around the globe. The history of this area is a fascinating study of politics and economic development in California.

In 1850, John Geary (pronounced Gary) became San Francisco’s first mayor. He sold a one square-block pile of sand to the City for $1 on the condition it would always be a park. Kids began playing a popular new game called baseball here and on other sand lots throughout the City, and so we have the term sandlot baseball.

Prior to the Civil War, southerners dominated California politics. They wanted California to secede from the United States to become an independent republic or join the Confederacy. In 1860, minister Thomas Starr-King came from Boston to head the First Unitarian Church (located where Nieman Marcus is today). He was a spell-binding orator whose speeches on the square urging support for President Lincoln, a Republican legislature and the abolition of slavery drew thousands. The political tide turned. California remained in the Union – thus, Union Square.

By the 1880’s, Union Square was a park of trees, grass and park benches surrounded by a wealthy residential neighborhood of mansions, churches, synagogues, and social clubs.

In 1898, Commodore George Dewey led a Navy squadron to defeat the Spanish Armada in the Battle of Manila, Philippines in the Spanish American War. San Franciscans raised private funds to honor Dewey with the monument in the center of the square. President William McKinley broke ground for the monument in 1901. After McKinley’s assassination, President Theodore Roosevelt dedicated the monument to both Dewey and McKinley in 1903.

At 5:13 a.m. on April 18, 1906, the earth rumbled for 45 seconds like few people had ever felt before. Enrico Caruso, the greatest opera star of the day was at the Palace Hotel and said “Everything in the room was going round and round. The chandelier was trying to touch the ceiling, and the chairs were chasing each other. Crash! Crash! Crash! It was terrible. My God I thought it would never stop. ‘El of a town. I never come back!” He never did.
union square cable cars
All around the square was destroyed, with the exception of the St. Francis, which had opened only two years before. It served meals in Union Square to hundreds of earthquake refuges. The St. Francis represented San Francisco in the golden era of hotels through the 1960s, when men wore suits and ties, and women wore hats and gloves in public. It was traditional to say either “Meet me at the St. Francis,” or, “Meet me under the clock.” Everyone knew it was the clock in the St. Francis lobby, where it still stands.

Unwilling to wait until the rubble was removed, wealthy residents of Union Square moved west of Van Ness Avenue. Union Square evolved into a retail shopping district that, like New York, Chicago and Boston, was renowned for its own exclusive merchants, such as the City of Paris and I. Magnin. By the late 1980s, travel, mass media and the homogenization of our culture saw the evolution to the national brands that dominate Union Square today.

This post is written by Peter Moylan – one of San Francisco’s leading walking tour guides and historical authorities. Hear similar stories on Peter’s personal walking, historical San Francisco tours.

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Five Must See Downtown San Francisco Museums

August 31st, 2011 · Museums

San Francisco’s cold rainy summers and winters can thwart the best-intentioned visitor’s plans to tour the city by the bay. There may be a disappointing view out the window and a cancelled trip across the Golden Gate, but for the culturally inclined a quick walk can be rewarded with visits to these five must-see downtown museums. Between three blocks on Mission Street just south of Market, one can visit an architectural wonder, wander through the newspaper comic section of their youth, and feel the history and connection to all humans on Earth.

Contemporary Jewish Museum

Contemporary Jewish Museum

Contemporary Jewish Museum

A three-story high black cube juts out of the brick side of the Jewish Contemporary Museum. To the visitor looking from the ground floor up at this converted Pacific Gas and Electric power station it may seem confusing and contrasting to understand the significance. Inside the Daniel Libeskind-designed building find the “aha” moment about the big black cube by reading the story of the building’s revival.  Seen from above, the building’s sculptural form is in the shape of the Hebrew letter “chai” to capture the Jewish mantra “l’chaim” which means “To Life!” Go further inside to feel the life of the naturally-lit and high ceiling museum with exhibits that feature modern Jewish themes like Gertrude Stein’s life in five stories or a listening room to hear the combinations of African-American and Jewish music.

Cartoon Art Museum

Cartoon Art Museum

Cartoon Art Museum

The Cartoon Art Museum is only one of a few graphic art museums in the world and the only one in the United States. In this art gallery setting, cartoon and comic book aficionados from around the world find hundreds of cartoon panels and rare illustrations from all eras. For those who used to read the Sunday funnies as a child, the museum offers a nostalgic trip with framed panes of Blondie, Nancy and Sluggo, and Garfield. Temporary exhibits run from the classical like “70 Years of Archie” to the daring illustrated version of Allen Ginsburg’s HOWL. With over 6000 works of cartoon art, the museum displays how the vast appeal of fun and sophisticated cartoon art.

Museum of Africa Diaspora (MoAD)

Museum of African Diaspora

Museum of African Diaspora

A three-story tall young Ghanaian’s portrait by Chester Higgins Jr. looks out on Mission Street and greets visitors through the museums’ glass façade. It is the symbol of the Museum of Africa Diaspora and includes 2700 photos sourced from around the world. The pictures and museum tell the story of African influence around the world as a result of recent centuries’ of African disbursement. Dance and hum along in the Celebration Circle where stories of food family and movement are shared from around the world. Follow up with a visit to the hands-on multimedia display of how Africa influences these aspects of culture.  Before moving onto one of the temporary exhibits, feel the words of African Slave freedom stories in the somber and Maya Angelou narrated Slavery Passages room.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

At this expansive modern art museum one can marvel at over 27,000 works of art – you may see paintings by Matisse, sculpture by Duchamp, and photography by Avedon. The Art in the Atrium hosts a stunning Calder mobile and modern murals. The building’s unique black and white architecture pulls in the visitor with a focused staircase and draws the eye up to look at the fifth-floor gangplank – all at the same time. If a visit to SFMOMA just happens to occur on a sunny day, then climb up the black staircase for a visit to the rooftop garden for the too-big-for-inside installations and most immersive view of the city.  The nearby Rooftop Coffee Bar serves snacks in a creative way – offering cakes and ice cream in the shape of showcased art. Try a Mondrian cake with that locally brewed Blue Bottle espresso.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

Although not technically a museum, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts is an art space and one that invites the same reflection and provocation. The YBCA brings the “now” to “here” with a gallery that hosts changing programs. It’s edgy performance and visual art interprets topics like San Francisco’s smut revolution from the 60s and 70s and cannabis reform. The vibe of this institution is seen in a welcoming quote to one of the exhibits, “Art deserves your full openness and presence. Leave your world behind. Chill. Focus. Energize.” If the rain breaks, the surrounding Yerba Buena Gardens is a unique place for picnic with large art installations and a wall of waterfalls.

All this cultural infusion in a few blocks in San Francisco may make a visitor pray for that rainy day. Since museums are typically closed one day a week, check the museum’s web sites for hours and visitor information. Get the full guide to all of San Francisco’s excellent museums at SFTravel.

By Kristin Zibell, editor and author of travel blog Takeyourbigtrip.com. After two years of traveling around the world, she is currently traveling locally in the city of San Francisco.

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Fisherman’s Wharf Love Story

August 12th, 2011 · Fisherman's Wharf

Fisherman’s Wharf is an area of San Francisco that we have to warn visitors as a “tourist trap” despite its immense popularity. However, this amazing story of love blossoming right at Fisherman’s Wharf truly touched our hearts. It’s a beautiful story of two people coming together interwoven with the heart and history of San Francisco. We hope it touches you in the same way and dedicate this story to Ali and Luc….

CC flickr.com/shuttermonster - Graham Lee

….I have to admit to a bias for Fisherman’s Wharf. My intro to Fisherman’s Wharf came when our daughter, Ali Immel, attended a program aboard the CA Thayer historic sailing ship in which kids spend 24 hours in the role of a seaman in the Age of Sail. She was a homeschooler, and she and her best friend took this very seriously and prepared for weeks, learning everything they could about life aboard a tall ship. Ali even began reading her father’s collection of Patrick O’Brien’s literary classics about the great sea battles of the Napoleonic wars.

The Age of Sail captured her so completely that she subsequently went sailing on tall ships, rebuilt a sailboat for herself and volunteered at Hyde Street

Creative Commons - flickr.com/AgentAkit

Pier the rest of her growing up, along with the boy she met at a chanty sing early on. They became boyfriend and girlfriend at 14 and 15. Now he, a graduate of the Maritime Academy, is a seaman and she, a graduate of Mills College, has a job on the Pier putting the tall ships maintenance and restoration skills she learned during her volunteer years to work on all the ships there. They bought their own 55ft wooden schooner, a replica of an historic fishing vessel that was something of an outlaw in the waters off Nova Scotia. They’ve restored it and won an award last year for their work.

Creative Commons - flickr.com/www78


On August 20, they’ll be married at the Fisherman’s and Seaman’s Chapel and afterwards we’ll all progress to Balclutha, historic sailing ship for the reception. And the rehearsal dinner will be at Pompeii’s Restaurant, which has been in the Pompeii family for decades. It isn’t haute cuisine, but it’s good neighborhood Italian restaurant fare and I’ve loved dealing with Nancy Pompeii, whose grandfather was actually a seaman aboard Balclutha when she was a working ship, then known as the Star of Alaska, traversing the waters between Alaska and San Francisco.

We used to take our Ali and Luc there for dinner after their volunteer days before they got their drivers’ licenses, which is why they’ve chosen it for the rehearsal dinner. So for us the Wharf is about its history, about an age whose extraordinary hand skills only survive through those who learn them and carry them on, and of course now about our daughter’s and her fiance’s personal histories.

Balclutha via Creative Commons - flickr.com/ToastyKen


The exhibit center across the street from Hyde St Pier will soon feature a traditional seaman’s chest with hand woven rope handles, Ali just finished. She’s also made traditional sailor’s clothing near the Maritime Museum, a full size sail for an sailing skiff “Coot” (by hand), and taught ditty bag construction while her fiance taught traditional rope work, for the Museum. Those are the kinds of things I wish more tourists would take an interest in and seek out.

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