Bay Area Thread

[Shakedwnst]

We were just in the city and 9 is probably a good age for the Exploratorium.

Riding the cable cars is always fun, and I thought the museum was pretty interesting.

 

[DerGundhof]

Far too lazy to read or search this thread - but here I am, looking for recommendations on where to stay and what to do with a wife and a 9-year-old boy in San Francisco or the wider Bay Area. We may need to visit someone in Fremont, if that helps narrow it down.

Also, where is a good spot to tick the highest number of TBers or to collect the rarest tick of all tosh? I'm not even sure the family will let me out (although maybe family dinner that eases into TB ticking might be possible), but it's worth half-heartedly exploring.

Coming out the last weekend in July into the first week of August.

There's more touristy stuff to see and do in SF than the East Bay, so I'd prob steer you in the direction of an AirBnB in SF...prob in the North Beach, Haight, Hayes Valley or Marina area. In general, I'd prob try and stay north of Market. The Mission and Castro are great (that's where I live) but a little less accessible to the touristy stuff. You prob won't need the car the whole time, so I'd consider just renting for the day or days you need to get to Fremont (parking can be a beeyatch...and costly). See below for full list of activities I'd recommend, all kid-friendly. For beer, your best bet is Toronado, or a Cellarmaker/City Beer store duet (they are a block from each other)...or better yet, all 3. I'm def down to come meet you for a beer or two, just holler.

Activities

Walk along Marina Green and across Golden Gate Bridge

Check out Golden Gate Park (Flower Conservatory, Japanese Garden, Cal Academy of Science, DeYoung Museum)...maybe end up at Beach Chalet for a bite and a beer

Check out Fisherman's Wharf (very touristy, but I bet a 9 year old kid would dig it), grab In n Out, stroll up through North Beach, Washington Square Park, Tony's Pizza is good but a long wait for sit-in

Stroll down Haight Street (Magnolia is a decent stop for food and beer)...can combine this with GG Park

Check out the Castro, Dolores Park and a stroll down Valencia and Mission Street, get a Burrito/Tacos/Torta (there are many good spots, but El Farolito, La Taqueria, Cancun, Castillito and El Buen Sabor are my personal favorites), play a round of indoor min-golf at Urban Putt or check out a movie at a cool, full service movie theater Alamo Drafthouse, good ice cream at Bi-Rite, great pastries at Tartine or Arizmendi...get over-priced but delicious coffee at Philz, Ritual, Four Barrel, Blue Bottle, etc...

Check out the Exploratorium and The Ferry Building along the Embarcadero (can also venture down to ATT Park, maybe catch a Giants game)..eat outside at Gott's or get some nice Vietnamese at Slanted Door...or for a quick, delicious option, there's the Cowgirl Creamery grilled cheese. There's also good ice cream at Humphrey Slocumbe.

Grab a good burger or ok BBQ at 4505 Meats, play old school video games at The Emporium (not a terrible beer list, either), throw stuff at BrandoSF at the Bi-Rite on Divsiadero (also good ice cream). Great bread, pastries and coffee at The Mill

That's a lot, so I'll stop...but if you need any more recs, or have specific questions, happy to help.

 

[stupac2]

There's more touristy stuff to see and do in SF than the East Bay, so I'd prob steer you in the direction of an AirBnB in SF

While this is largely true, there can be reasons to stay in the east bay (I suspect it's much cheaper, for starters). Some old friends of mine who used to live in the city were just in town and they chose to stay in the east bay and just take the ferry/bart/drive in the city. They had a toddler though, dunno if there's a difference with an older kid.

 

[capnmike]

Hope we can touch tips when you are out here! We will be moving from the SF around then though.

Open to AirBnb? On their search criteria or when looking at results there is family friendly listings. We lived in the Marina/Cow Hollow area for a while. It is nice with access to killer playgrounds and walking spots. Otherwise, Fisherman's Wharf area is preferable due to proximity of hotels and kid stuff nearby. Grab the historic F car MUNI lines. They are the slow ones that lumber up and down the Embarcadero and fun to ride.

One of our favorite spots is the California Academy of Sciences. They have an aquarium and many interactive exhibits for kids.

https://www.calacademy.org

Across the way is the De Young Museum. There is a free observation tour where you can see the entire City and many parts of the bay.

We did this exact trip above a few weeks ago. I have a membership to the Cal Academy and free passes if you want to meet up. We could even brown bag some beers in the park


Shoot me a PM and I can give you some more detailed help.

Sounds good - I’ll bring the:

 

[Wino1]

Hey y'all, AndresR and I and a couple other folks are going to meet up at City Beer on Saturday around 3pm to share some cooler bottles. There's some good old stuff available for on-premises consumption right now and it's easier with a crowd, come on by!

What beers? I swung by on Tues after cellarmaker and didn’t see anything that stood out except for a pre2014 BCBS

 

[AndresR]

What beers? I swung by on Tues after cellarmaker and didn’t see anything that stood out except for a pre2014 BCBS

No idea. Bit of it sucks, Cellarmaker and Mikkler to follow. Hell, maybe even Old Devil Moon if the timing works!

 

[stupac2]

What beers? I swung by on Tues after cellarmaker and didn’t see anything that stood out except for a pre2014 BCBS

This is jedwards so it could be a 1989 Anchor Our Special that's been kicking around someone's trunk for a decade.

 

[buzzword]

This is jedwards so it could be a 1989 Anchor Our Special that's been kicking around someone's trunk for a decade.

what time are you lummoxes going today?

 

[AndresR]

what time are you lummoxes going today?

I'm aiming for closer to 2pm to arrive in the area.

 

[jedwards]

This is jedwards so it could be a 1989 Anchor Our Special that's been kicking around someone's trunk for a decade.

Excuse me, this is how the brewer intended it to be aged.

I'll be down there closer to 3 -- I saw a few good things in the cooler for cheap a couple weeks ago (Valley Old Inventory '09, anybody?), but if we get bored lots of other options close by.

 

[AndresR]

Excuse me, this is how the brewer intended it to be aged.

I'll be down there closer to 3 -- I saw a few good things in the cooler for cheap a couple weeks ago (Valley Old Inventory '09, anybody?), but if we get bored lots of other options close by.

And now, I'm out. Fn curve ball thrown at me last minute.

Have fun folks!

 

[buzzword]

And now, I'm out. Fn curve ball thrown at me last minute.

Have fun folks!

 

[AndresR]

Can't argue that

 

[stupac2]

When did you guys end up bailing? It actually worked out great for me, my wife got invited to a neighbor's place for pizza and beer, so I got home and kept on drinking... So much beer today.

 

[buzzword]

When did you guys end up bailing? It actually worked out great for me, my wife got invited to a neighbor's place for pizza and beer, so I got home and kept on drinking... So much beer today.

left and went to CM, left there and went to toro. still @ toro.

 

[jermy]

Hello Bay Area fellers, I will be in ya for a few hours tomorrow night. Anybody wanna touch tips/meet at toro/city beer? Coming from Petoskey, MI and can bring some kuhnhenn dripa crowlers if there’s interest (place is open for 3 more hours so holla)

 

[lb304854]

I'm in town, and stuff.

 

[buzzword]

I'm in town, and stuff.

Y THO

 

[tosh1]

I'm in town, and stuff.

Defne ‘town’ ‘cos San Jose does not count.

 

[AndresR]

Defne ‘town’ ‘cos San Jose does not count.

Also bare in mind the average Bay Area TB'er is only willing to travel....

4 blocks from their home

2 blocks from their work

1.5 blocks off their route from home to work

There is not much overlap, fyi.

It's really not much of a social group here.

 

[Arbitrator]

Also bare in mind the average Bay Area TB'er is only willing to travel....

4 blocks from their home

2 blocks from their work

1.5 blocks off their route from home to work

There is not much overlap, fyi.

It's really not much of a social group here.

Correct.

I work with another BA/TBer and can't be bothered to drink with him (he's one floor up).

 

[AndresR]

Correct.

I work with another BA/TBer and can't be bothered to drink with him (he's one floor up).

I owed a guy a box of beer. He lived 4 blocks from where I was working. He wouldn't meet. I had to ship. Ship. 4 blocks.

 

[matedog]

I owed a guy a box of beer. He lived 4 blocks from where I was working. He wouldn't meet. I had to ship. Ship. 4 blocks.

To be fair, we tend to be a nerdy bunch with antisocial tendencies. Beer nerds, not just SF beer nerds.

 

[AndresR]

To be fair, we tend to be a nerdy bunch with antisocial tendencies. Beer nerds, not just SF beer nerds.

Disagree to a point.

I lived in LA for almost a decade. We did a share every 3-4 weeks. And hung out in small groups at least once every 2 weeks. LA takes effort to hang out. And effort was given. The beer nerds there were just as.....different... as we are here.

I think its a cultural thing.

All good.

 

[stupac2]

Disagree to a point.

I lived in LA for almost a decade. We did a share every 3-4 weeks. And hung out in small groups at least once every 2 weeks. LA takes effort to hang out. And effort was given. The beer nerds there were just as.....different... as we are here.

I think its a cultural thing.

All good.

Didn't used to be like this! East Bay nerds got together all the time a few years ago. And I try to host weekly tastings, but it's hard now that everyone has kids.

 

[drgarage1]

Didn't used to be like this! East Bay nerds got together all the time a few years ago. And I try to host weekly tastings, but it's hard now that everyone has kids.

Yep. I hosted a big monthly share for years. But parent stuff...

 

[matedog]

Didn't used to be like this! East Bay nerds got together all the time a few years ago. And I try to host weekly tastings, but it's hard now that everyone has kids.

Yeah, I know of at least a few regular tastings. Only one is feasible with any sort of regularity for me though, because kids blah blah blah.

 

[mattQ]

It’s not just me then: kids are just really hard on the drinking habits

 

[atomicpunk5151]

It’s not just me then: kids are just really hard on the drinking habits

If anything.... dealing with my teenage kids makes me drink more......

 

[RyanG1]

Defne ‘town’ ‘cos San Jose does not count.

You mean The San Jose down The 280 or The 101?

In laws are there cannot be bothered.