I am moving from the East Coast to the SF Bay Area and am humbly seeking advice from my fellow dopers. My new job is in the Redwood City area. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated but I am particularly interested in the following:
[ul]
[li]How to find a place to live without subjecting future generations to lingering and crushing debt.[/li][li]Suggestions on night life, restaurants, etc. You know, things to do in the few hours not spent earning enough to pay for said housing.[/li][li]Unusual laws/taxes/customs/rituals.[/li][li]Museums (art and historical) and other attractions.[/li][li]Interesting websites to further my education.[/li][/ul]
Be gentle if you want to inform me that I have made a tragic mistake. There is no turning back. Thanks in advance.
Ok, OrganicMatter, you’re more than welcome.
But no more of you, ok? You can’t all come here. Think of the wide-open vistas of, say, Minnesota!
Just kidding. We got lots of room.
Here’s a link to a weekly. Lots of to do’s
And here’s another.
Have fun.
Peace,
mangeorge
I second the recommendation on the SFBay Guardian…read that, and you’ll be better informed than most of the natives.
You’re going to have to learn to bitch about LA, too, if you want to fit in.
As for affordable housing…
(snicker)
Ahem! (chuckle) Theres plenty of affordable housing here in the Bay Area…
HaaHaaHaaHaaHaaHaaHaaHaaHaaHaaHaaHaaHaaHaa!!!
(snort!)
HaaHaaHaaHaaHaaHaaHaaHaaHaaHaaHaaHaaHaaHaa!!!
Seriously, you might as well forget about that “only go as high as 30-40 percent of your income on housing” that the books recommend.
Redwood City’s not nearly as bad as Milpitas or Palo Alto, but the Commute is crummy if you’ve got a Silicon Valley job.
Hi! Welcome to the Bay Area! Let’s look at your list.
Sorry, not possible. Current average house price is hovering around the $500,000 mark.
Don’t know Redwood City area well enough to know. Someone else?
Well, there is the ritual Buying of the Margaritas for the Bay Area Dopers. Weird laws? I don’t know if you’re a smoker, but California probably has the strictest smoking laws in the country. You cannot smoke indoors in ANY public place, including bars. Learn to love the holidays of the various ethnic groups - the two biggest are Cinco de Mayo and Chinese New Year, both of which are celebrated by the general population, not just the specific groups. Oh, and Gay Pride is HUGE. If you’re a bleeding heart liberal, you’ll fit right in. (I know, quite literally, two Republicans IRL.)
I like the museums in Golden Gate Park - the Academy of Sciences, which has an aquarium, is across the street from the DeYoung, an art museum, which also houses the Museum of Asian Art. Also cool is SF MOMA, partly because of the cool architecture of the building. You should also make it out to Angel Island, where thousands (millions?) of immigrants from China & Japan landed upon reaching the US. And although I am ashamed to admit I have never been there, I hear Alcatraz is worth the visit.
I recommend http://www.sfgate.com. It’s the website of the Chronicle, the Examiner, and KRON-Channel 4 all in one. Much useful local material can be gleaned from this site, which also has probably the most amusing front page of any major newspaper in the US.
Again, welcome! Keep an eye out for mention of the next Bay Area Dopefest, it’s not to be missed.
I have to admit…the first time I read the title of this thread, I was wondering if mebbe it was something more appropriate for Mistress Marisha…look for her on SFBG’s website at http://www.sfbg.com/truth/54.html.
BwaHaHaHaHa!
You want [snort] what?
Oh, I get it, it’s a sick joke!
Jokes aside,
BwaHaHaHaHaHa!
-Sam
My condolences on the California “bagels”.
Thanks for the replies.
mangeorge,
If you will just let me in I promise to only drive during really odd hours so I don’t add to the crush. Thanks for the links.
ricepad,
LA: Didn’t that used to be a city in California? How was that? 
Not that kind of bound. I saved the link to Mistress Marisha just in case though.
Kyla,
The first round of Margaritas is on me. Thanks for the museum info and for the welcome.
GaWd,
If I don’t insist on having windows or multiple rooms in the house and can sign a 90 year mortgage, it looks like I won’t need to live in my car.
Hahahahahaha! We moved to San Jose from Boston and STILL had sticker shock. Be prepared to double your rent/mortgage.
Make sure you get your car registered at the DMV pronto. Or lie about when you moved here. If you don’t get it registered within 20 (i think, maybe 15) days, you pay a 20% penalty, minimum. It gets higher the longer you don’t register. Considering it cost us almost $3000 to register our 3 cars, 20% would have been quite a hit. Oh, and make an appointment at the DMV, the lines are a nightmare. Try this: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/
Also, there’s a ritual of buying the area Dopers a round of margaritas. 
There is, it seems, a different festival every weekend. Loads of fun! The Winchester Mystery House is neat. There’s a Egyptian museum in San Jose that I’m interested in going to, but haven’t heard anything about it. You have to do the Exploratorium, it’s a must. The aquarium in Monterey is supposed to be awesome. Sorry if I can’t be more help here, I’m still learning my way around too.
**
[/QUOTE]
I think SF has a better fish jail Sue.
Lodging is easy. Just walk down Polk street in SF, lots of guys are going to ask you if you want to stay at their house for free. Very warm & nice male environment.
Dont trip over the homeless. My uncle lives in Redwood City, nice area, he currently works for Oracle, its only about a 30 min drive. Might I ask, what kind of car do you drive?
Sue,
Thanks for the dmv link – clearly the dmv thing is the worst part of moving.
The way I understand the margarita ritual is this: Each time someone mentions the ritual here, I buy another round. Is that it? If so, it looks like I owe two rounds now.
fnord,
I drive an Eagle Vision. My new company is located quite close to Oracle.
As long as it is an automatic, you should be fine. Those hills are murder on clutches.
How about advice on living near the ocean (e.g., Pacifica, El Granada) v. inland (e.g., San Mateo, Foster City)? What is the difference in cost, traffic?
I grew up in Redwood City, feel free to Email!!
The coast is a wicked commute to anywhere. The only ways in are two lane, mountain roads. Of course the highways are so congested, perhaps speed is a moot point. Try the museums at Coyote Point, too. Be sure your car meets California emmissions, they are easily the strictest in the world. Many times it’s cheaper to sell the car and buy one here. You’ll never sell your car here if it doesn’t meet emmissions. There is a great Charlie Browns resturant at Petes Harbor, on the water. Which is in Redwood City. I haven’t lived there in about 5 years so let me check my sources for more. Take a sweater everywhere, except in September. The major heat wave hits just as school starts in early September. And let me know when the ceremonial margarita buying is taking place!!
My uncle lives right down the road from Pete’s Harbor
Twice the price!
If water is anywhere near your home, expect to pay more, once again. THe south bay is your best bet for cheaper housing, IMO.
-Sam
Plus, I assume that if either 84 or 92 is closed, a major nightmare ensues. Still, the coast is great.
Sound like really good advice. Thanks.
I guess I now owe three rounds. Am I doing this right? I want to fit in.
You’re doing just fine!
If either highway is closed the nightmare is indescribable.
Devils Slide closes off SF from HWY 1 every couple of years for months at a time. Shudder at the thought. GaWd is right, last I knew, the south bay was cheaper. That’s cheapER, not cheap. WE AREN’T KIDDING about housing prices.
Good luck and keep in touch!!